Gasteria ellaphieae Van Jaarsv.

Plants acaulescent, decumbent to erect, 15-30(-40) mm tall, (50-)70-140(-160) mm in diameter, solitary or proliferating from the base to form small groups. Roots succulent, up to 5 mm in diameter, linear-obclavate, gradually dilating from the tip upwards. Leaves at first distichous, becoming rosulate, 20-40(-50) mm long 10-20 mm broad at the base, firm, triangular to triangular-lanceolate and falcate, the inner erectly spreading the outer recurved; adaxial surface canaliculate and flat in upper third; abaxial surface somewhat convex with a distinct excentric keel; both surfaces dark green, with dense, white tubercles arranged in irregular transverse bands; epidermis tuberculate; tubercles domed; margin tuberculate-denticulate; apex acute or acuminate, recurved, mucronate. Juvenile leaves distichous, lorate, ascending at first, becoming patent or recurved; tubercles domed or subconical. Inflorescence an erectly spreading raceme, 250-400 mm long, simple or branched in upper third and bearing 8-15 flowers; scape 2-2.5 mm in diameter at base; bracts 5 mm long, 2.5 mm broad at the base; floral bracts the same; pedicel 6 mm long. Perianth (22-)25-27 mm long reddish pink stipitate for 2.5 mm, gasteriform basally for slightly more than half its length: the gasteriform portion 7.5 mm in diameter (narrow-elliptic), thence constricted into a tube 4.5 mm wide; apices erectly spreading obtuse, white with centric green striations; inner segments canaliculate for the length of the gasteriform portion. Stamens 20-25 mm long, three lengthening in advance; anthers 2 mm long, oblong, included or protruding up to 2 mm. Ovary 5 mm long and 2 mm in diameter, style 16 mm long, exceeding the anthers after anthesis; stigma minute, curved upwards, becoming capitate during anthesis, included. Capsule 12-15 mm long 5-6 mm in diameter. Seeds 3 mm long 2 mm wide. Flowering time January to February.