Astroloba foliolosa budding

Astroloba foliolosa is a small, variable leaf-succulent growing erect stems, branching at the base.

The plants are densely covered in rigid columns of sessile, triangular leaves, tapering to sharp tips. The leaves are sometimes spirally arranged, the stem tips rosette shaped. Leaf surfaces are grey-green, cream or pinkish and smooth, glossy.

As all eight the Astroloba species, A. foliolosa has radially symmetrical flowers, distinguishing them from Haworthia flowers that are bilaterally symmetrical. Thick clusters of buds are just appearing on the flower stems that are emerging from among the leaves on this plant.

The species distribution is in the central Karoo, inland in semi-arid parts of the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape. The plant was photographed near Beaufort West in May.

Astrolobas are usually found growing under taller, spreading shrubs, nurse plants that afford them shade and shelter in the karoid conditions. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Wikipedia; iSpot; www.redlist.sanbi.org).