Gasteria camillae van Jaarsv. & Molteno, a new obligatory cliff-dwelling species from the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

A new cliff-dwelling Gasteria, Gasteria camillae van Jaarsv. & Molteno, is described. This species is indigenous to the eastern portion of the Baviaanskloof mountain range, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. G. camillae has certain similarities to G. glauca, but differs in being caulescent, with smaller rosettes and a smooth (not tuberculate) leaf surface that is apparent in both juvenile and adult specimens. It shares other characteristics with G. rawlinsonii. However, among other distinctive characters, it differs in its smooth, keeled leaves that are more densely arranged in rosettes, rather than in a distichous or spiro-distichous arrangement. Within the genus, G. camillae is most appropriately assigned to section Gasteria, series Gasteria.