Gasteria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asphodelaceae
Genus:	Gasteria

Gasteria brachyphylla (Salm-Dyck) Van Jaarsv.

Gasteria is a genus of succulent plants native to South Africa. Closely-related genera include Aloe and Haworthia. The genus is named for its stomach-shaped flowers and is part of an expanded Asphodelaceae family. Common names include cow-tongue cactus, lawyer's tongue, mother-in-law's tongue, ox-tongue^[1].

[edit] Cultivation

Gasteria species should be grown in well-drained, sandy soils. The majority of the species prefer light shade and should be protected from direct sunlight or other extreme conditions. Inorganic pebble mulch can be placed around the plant to prevent weeds from growing. The mulch, along with any other compost or bone meal, should be applied at the beginning of growing season.

Germination usually occurs within 8 days but may take as long as one month depending on the species.

Watering should occur frequently in the spring, summer, and autumn, but should not overwhelm the plant. It is suggested to suspend watering the Gasteria in the winter.

If the situation applies, one should re-pot the Gasteria every 3 to 4 years.

[edit] Species and Varieties

Gasteria pillansii, showing the stomach-shaped flowers

Gasteria batesiana

• Gasteria acinacifolia
• Gasteria armstrongii
• Gasteria batesiana var. batesiana
• Gasteria batesiana var. dolomitica
• Gasteria baylissiana
• Gasteria bicolor var. bicolor
• Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana
• Gasteria brachyphylla var. bayeri
• Gasteria brachyphylla var. brachyphylla
• Gasteria carinata var. carinata
• Gasteria carinata var. glabra
• Gasteria carinata var. retusa
• Gasteria carinata var. thunbergii
• Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa
• Gasteria croucheri
• Gasteria disticha
• Gasteria dorineae
• Gasteria ellaphieae
• Gasteria excelsa
• Gasteria glauca
• Gasteria glomerata
• Gasteria nitida
• Gasteria obliqua
• Gasteria pendulifolia
• Gasteria pillansii var. ernesti-ruschii
• Gasteria pillansii var. pillansii
• Gasteria polita
• Gasteria pulchra
• Gasteria rawlinsonii
• Gasteria tukhelensis
• Gasteria vlokii

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gasteria

• Webshots - Images of Gasteria
• The Encyclopedia of House Plants - Gasteria
• Gasteria

[edit] References

1. ^ Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. Macmillan, New York.