About Gasteria disticha (L.) Haw.
This Gasteria species has strap-shaped leaves arranged in two opposite rows, called a distichous arrangement, which is the source of its Latin species name. In its vegetative growth form, it closely resembles the closely related distichous species Gasteria pillansii, which grows to the north, and Gasteria brachyphylla, which grows to the south-east. Its flowers differ from these related species, however: Gasteria disticha produces small flowers only 12–20 mm long, with the base of the flower inflated or swollen for approximately two-thirds of the flower's total length. Gasteria disticha often has slightly undulating leaves, with wavy margins and a rough, matte surface. It is a proliferous species that bears pink flowers, which appear between September and December. This species grows in the Robertson Karoo vegetation of the Breede River Valley in the Western Cape, South Africa. It also extends marginally into the verges of the Great Karoo. In its natural habitat, it most commonly grows under rocks or bushes, which shelter it from direct sun.
