Gasteria is a genus of 23 species of succulent plants indigenous to South Africa with all except one being endemic to South Africa. Closely related genera include Aloe, Astroloba and Haworthia. The genus name Gasteria is named for its stomach-shaped flowers. In Greek, gaster, means belly, and alludes to the swollen base of the perianth tube. The genus is part of the family Asphodeloideae. Common names include cow-tongue cactus, lawyer’s tongue, mother-in-law’s tongue and ox-tongue. Gasteria species are grown in well-drained, sandy soils in light shade. Gasterias thrive in cultivation both indoors and outdoors, used as potted plants or in outdoor rockeries and are tolerant of a wide range of soils and habitats. The flowers attract birds to the garden during spring. With their ability to grow under lower light conditions they are easily grown and maintained in cultivation. Gasterias are used in various traditional medicines. In the Eastern Cape Gasteria excelsa and Gasteria croucheri are said to have magical properties and are occasionally put on the roofs of homes to stop lightning from striking the house. There are also reports that the plants are used during faction fighting in a belief that it will make them invisible to their enemies.

Gasteria disticha commonly known as Great Karoo ox-tongue in English and Groot Karoo-beestong and boesmanrys in Afrikaans is a beautiful endemic species widely distributed in the southern parts of the Great Karoo below the Great Escarpment, from Beaufort West in the north to the Swartberg mountain range in the south and as far east as Rietbron; to the west it just enters the Tanqua Karoo. It is also widely distributed in the Breede River Valley from Worcester to Drew, the Koo Valley and Ouberg Pass in the Montagu District. Gasteria disticha is closely related to Gasteria brachyphylla which grows in the Klein Karoo and has a smooth leaf surface. Although both have leaves in opposite rows, Gasteria disticha is immediately recognized by its rough leaf texture which is said to feel almost like fine sandpaper.