Additional notes (click to expand)

Commemorative

Named for J Croucher, Kew Gardener in 1869. (Bot. Mag. 1869, t.5812)
Desmond, Ray. (1977). Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists. Taylor and Francis, London.

Horticulture

In South African

Medicinal

In South African traditional medicine (Muti) the whole plant parts of G. croucheri are used as a blood purifier, purgative, tonic wash and herbal medicine for skin problems such as ringworm, skin rash and warts. The leaves of G. croucheri are used as an emetic, to induce vomiting and as a herbal medicine for diarrhoea, hysteria, paralysis and rheumatism.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research https://www.jpsr.pharmainfo.in/Documents/Volumes/vol11issue09/jpsr11091947.pdf

Nomenclature

Gasteria croucheri (Hook.f.) Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 18: 196 (1880).
World Checklist of Monocotyledons. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew at www.kew.org/wcsp/monocots

Aloe croucheri Hook. f. (basionym); Gasteria natalensis Baker.
Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) at www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

Family name change from Xanthorrhoeaceae
Plants of the World online, Kew Science http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30162924-2 link

The name Gasteria originates from the Greek word gaster, meaning stomach: the flowers have the shape of a human stomach.
Oliver, IB. (1998). Grown Succulents, National Botanical Institute P.11

Other use

The plants are sometimes placed on the roofs of dwellings in the Eastern Cape, with the belief that the lightning will not strike the house. The Zulu people use parts of the plants in faction fights, believing that it will make them partly camouflaged so the enemy will not see them.
www.plantzafrica.com https://pza.sanbi.org/gasteria-croucheri

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Southern Africa, Cape Provinces
  • Africa, Southern Africa, KwaZulu-Natal

Gasteria croucheri (Hook.f.) Baker

Family: ASPHODELACEAE
Genus: Gasteria
Species: croucheri (Hook.f.) Baker
Distribution summary: S.Africa (S.E.Cape Province to Kwa Zulu-Natal)
Habit: Succulent
Hardiness: H2 - Tender; cool or frost-free greenhouse
Habitat: Rocky slopes
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants in pots (POT), Arid zones (Q)
Flowering months: July, August
Reason for growing: Commemorative, medicinal


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