Astroloba pentagona explained

Astroloba pentagona (="hallii" nom. nud.) is a small succulent plant of the genus Astroloba, restricted to an area of the western section of the Little Karoo, South Africa.^[1]

Description

This plant resembles a lower, more robust variety of A. bullulata. Its lighter green leaves are thinner than those of bullulata, and have dark longitudinal lines on the leaf undersides. Some specimens also have inconspicuous pale spots, which tend to form in longitudinal rows on the leaves. The leaves densely cover the stems which reach a height of 15 cm. The flowers occur from November till May and have a lighter colour compared to those of A. bullulata.

It occurs south and east of Lainsburg, on rocky ridges in shale soils.^{[2] [3]}

This species is sometimes referred to by the unpublished name "Astroloba hallii".^[4]

Notes and References

1. S. Molteno, GF. Smith, E. Figueiredo: "A synopsis of Astroloba Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): species, types, and infrageneric classification." Haseltonia 25, 2018. pp.72–83. https://doi.org/10.2985/026.025.0106
2. U. Eggli: Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Science & Business Media, 2001. p.187.
3. S. Molteno, GF. Smith: "The identity and typification of Astroloba pentagona (Haw.) Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), the type species of the genus Astroloba Uitewaal." Haseltonia 25, 2018. pp.57–7. https://doi.org/10.2985/026.025.0105
4. Pandora Roberts Reinecke: Genus Astroloba Uitewaal (Liliaceae). UCT Department of Biological Sciences. 1965.