The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words astros, star, and lobos, lobe, and refers to the starlike shape of the petals, which appear at the end of the tube-like flowers.
Description
They are very closely related to the genus Haworthia, but are distinguished by their flowers being regular and not double-tipped. The flowers are small and white, and appear clustered on slender racemes.[3]
They bear very regular, sharp, triangular, succulent leaves along their symmetrical columnar stems. The leaves are in a number of distinctive spiral arrangements.[4] They are slow growing, multi-stemmed, and their longer stems tend to sprawl in their rocky natural habitat.
Within the genus, various subgroupings can be recognised, based on shared characteristics. The Foliolosa Complex (including the entities robusta, foliolosa and congesta) can be distinguished by the glossy sheen to their leaves, and by their flowers with long bracts, short pedicels, smooth perianth tubes and broad cream-white lobes.
Distribution and habitat
These species are restricted to the dryer inland regions of the southern Cape, South Africa. In their arid natural habitat, they tend to favour semi-shade positions, with well-drained soil and winter rainfall.[5]
Natural hybrids of these species occur, and there are several varieties which are unresolved as to whether they constitute intermediate forms, hybrids or separate species. In addition there are naturally occurring hybrids between species of Astroloba and Tulista (formerly Haworthia Robustipedunculares), including the well-known ones named × Astrolista bicarinata (formerly x Astroworthia bicarinata / skinneri) which are crosses between Astroloba corrugata and Tulista pumila.[13]
^Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards), "Asphodeloideae", Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, retrieved 2016-06-10
^Eggli, Urs; Newton, Leonard E. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names, Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer, ISBN978-3-642-05597-3, p. 17
^Molteno S. (2022). Phyllotaxis in Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae: a tool in taxon delimitation. Haseltonia28(1), https://doi.org/10.2985/026.028.0107
^Molteno, S., Smith, G., Van Jaarsveld, E. (2017) Extending the Natural Distribution Range of Astroloba herrei Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Implications for Its Conservation Status. Haseltonia23:39–47, https://doi.org/10.2985/026.023.0106ISSN1938-2898
^Molteno S., Smith G.F., Figueiredo E. (2018). A Synopsis of Astroloba Uitewaal (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae): Species, Types, and Infrageneric Classification. Haseltonia25: 72-83, https://doi.org/10.2985/026.025.0106