Gasteria disticha 'obscura' in this website refers to the attactive dark coloured Gasterias that are found in Bosluiskloof. Due to their rough leaf texture I take it as a dark small form of Gasteria disticha but it could even be a form of Gasteria brachyplylla var. bayeri which occurs some 20 km to the south side of the Swartberg, or perhaps be regarded as a new species. Bosluiskloof is part of the Swartberg range on the northern (Great Karoo) side.
The Gasterias of the Great Karoo are perhaps not so easy to place taxononimcally. A number of the Great Karoo Gasterias have a tendency to be dark in colour but occur over a large area with considerable variation, especially in size. The large forms around Beaufort West and Merweville are referred to as Gasteria disticha var. robusta but there are others in the Great Karoo that have not received unique varietal (or subspecies) status yet.
Another smallish Gasteria occurs at Rouxpos, some 30 kilometers to the west of Gasteria disticha 'obscura'. These plants are in general less dark than Gasteria disticha 'obscura' from Bosluiskloof.
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