Gonialoe variegata

Gonialoe variegata, commonly known in Afrikaans as the kanniedood (cannot die) and previously scientifically as Aloe variegata, is a stemless leaf succulent that reaches height to about 30 cm when flowering.

The leaves are arranged in triangular rosettes, growing in three vertical ranks. There are from 6 to 8 leaves per rank on a mature plant, sometimes with a spiral twist to the ranks. In shade and sufficiently watered, the plants are green. In dry conditions and full sun the leaves will be dark brown. Whatever the conditions, the leaves are always covered in the characteristic small round or oblong white spots occurring in irregular bands across the leaf width. The leaf margins as well as the leaf keels are strengthened by hard ridges like white cartilage minutely toothed.

The inflorescence of G. variegata is either simple or has up to three cylindrical racemes. The peduncle or main stalk of the racemes is notably large. Up to six separate inflorescences may be produced from one rosette per flowering season. The racemes are lax bearing 20 to 30 flowers each. The perianths are dull red to pinkish, the upper parts darker. The filaments are pinkish, the anthers not exserted or only slightly so. 

The species distribution is widespread inland in the dry, western parts of South Africa, particularly the Northern Cape Karoo and Namaqualand, the Western Cape Little Karoo, the westerly inland part of the Eastern Cape and the southwestern Free State; also southern Namibia.

The habitat is arid and semi-arid scrub veld and succulent Karoo at elevations from 100 m to 1800 m. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Van Wyk and Smith, 2003; Reynolds, 1974; Jeppe, 1969; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).