The taxonomy and identity of Astroloba spirella (Haw.) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a distinctive species from the western Klein Karoo, Western Cape Province, South Africa

2019/05/01 by Steven Molteno, Gideon F. Smith · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #African Botany and Ecology Studies #Archaeology #Biology #Cape #Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies #Genealogy #Geography #History #Plant Diversity and Evolution #Taxonomy (biology) #Zoology

paper · doi:10.25223/brad.n37.2019.a32

openalex publication_date 2019/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

Astroloba spirella (Haw.) Molteno & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), which is based on Haworthia spirella Haw., is a small, compact species that occurs in shrubby vegetation on rocky slopes in the western Klein Karoo, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The taxonomy and identity of A. spirella is clarified; it is shown that this name should be applied to populations of Astroloba Uitewaal that can be distinguished from their relatives by their true-marginate leaf apices, by the lack of tubercles on their matte-surfaced leaves, and by their non-rugose, non-inflated perianths with whitish lobes. The designation ‘A. smutsiana’, was previously sometimes applied to this species.

Citations

• A Synopsis of Astroloba Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Species, Types, and Infrageneric Classification
• A Molecular Phylogeny and Generic Classification of Asphodelaceae subfamily Alooideae: A Final Resolution of the Prickly Issue of Polyphyly in the Alooids?
• Astroloba robustaP.Reinecke ex Molteno, Van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new species from the Great Karoo, South Africa
• The Identity and Typification of Astroloba pentagona (Haw.) Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), the Type Species of the Genus Astroloba Uitewaal

Cited by

• Phyllotaxis in Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae: A Tool in Taxon Delimitation
• Astroloba spirella [wikipedia]

Related

• Astroloba robustaP.Reinecke ex Molteno, Van Jaarsv. & Gideon F.Sm. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a new species from the Great Karoo, South Africa
• The Identity and Typification of Astroloba pentagona (Haw.) Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), the Type Species of the Genus Astroloba Uitewaal
• A Synopsis of Astroloba Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Species, Types, and Infrageneric Classification
• Extending the Natural Distribution Range ofAstroloba herreiUitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Implications for Its Conservation Status
• A conservation and floristic assessment of poorly known species rich quartz–silcrete outcrops within Rûens Shale Renosterveld (Overberg, Western Cape), with taxonomic descriptions of five new species