Gasteria croucheri in the Walter Sisulu

This Gasteria croucheri plant seen in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden during January has pointed leaf tips and a pale leaf colour; not considering the old, stressed, orange leaves also present. A secondary rosette, sparsely leaved as the primary one, struggles on the side to reach a respectable position. The leaf marginal ridges are yellowish and smooth. The white dots on the leaf surfaces are faint here and somewhat sparse.

G. croucheri is a plant with a very noticeable appearance.  It is not surprising that such a plant plays on the minds of people and find its way into the superstition component of folklore: Zulu warriors used to apply this plant in some way to render themselves invisible to enemies, while it is sometimes planted on the roofs of huts to divert lightning (Smith and Crouch, 2009; www.plantzafrica.com).