Description
Gasteria Bicolor is typically distinguished, with age, by its short stem, which separates it from other acaulescent species, it can get tall as leaves keep stacking on themselves. Origin & Habitat: South Africa. This species has a large area of distribution in the Eastern Cape from Humansdorp eastwards, & northwards to Pearson, & although it overlaps other species' ranges no hybrids have been reported. Habitat: Gasteria bicolor occurs in a wide range of habitats mainly in summer rainfall regions. It grows on shallow soil in the shade of other plants. Their speckled appearance, make them difficult to detect in the mottled shade of the bushes under which they are found, thus giving them some protection from grazers, but not necessarily from being trampled. Nevertheless, if they are disturbed, grazed or trampled, their brittle leaves will break & the parts broken off will spontaneously root on the ground. They have thus become very well adapted to 'bad handling', so well in fact that it even appears to be beneficial to the plant in that it generates young & vigorous plants & increases the population. Synonyms: Gasteria bicolor Haw. Aloe bicolor (Haw.) Schult. & Schult.f. Aloe bowieana Salm-Dyck Aloe dictyodes Schult.f. Aloe lingua Ker Gawl. Description: Introduced into cultivation about 1825 Gasteria bicolor is a very distinct species that forms long, leafy stems instead of basal rosettes. Decumbent to erect it branches profusely from the base to form small groups & can grow up to 50-70 cm tall & 1 m in diameter with a short leafy stem. The leaves of young plants are distichous (arranged in two opposite ranks) & look quite different to the adult leaves. It is extremely variable & several varieties & cultivars are known. Gasteria Bicolor. It Can Get Tall As Leaves Keep Stacking On Themselves. Usda Zones 9-11
