Gasteria brachyphylla var. bayeri

Gasteria brachyphylla var. bayeri is a leaf succulent growing its leaves in a distichous or fan-shaped arrangement, i.e. in two opposite, vertical arrays. They are dark-green and spotted, thickly succulent, strap-shaped with entire margins and rounded tips. Hard, whitish rims are visible upon the leaf margins. The leaves are much smaller than those of the more common variety (var. brachyphylla) and reach only to 5 cm in length.

Inflorescences are panicle-shaped and up to 1 m tall. The salmon-pink flowers, stomach-shaped and tubular in line with the generic trend, have greenish tips. The plants flower in winter and spring. 

The subspecies is distributed in the Little Karoo around Calitzdorp and Vanwyksdorp. The habitat is semi-arid, karoid veld among shrubs and small trees like spekboom, guarri and asbos, often benefiting from the shade and shelter provided by the larger neighbours. The plant is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (www.plantzafrica.com; www.redlist.sanbi.org).