All you wanted to know about Haworthias, Gasterias and Astrolobas: Haworthia picta

Haworthia picta, S. Oudtshoorn

Haworthia picta, Saffraanrivier

Haworthia picta V.Poelln.

H. picta has stemless rosette with very short recurved leaves with convex end areas, usually flecked with pinkish markings. In nature plants are usually smaller with fewer leaves, but in cultivation it can grow quite large. Size can vary from 4 to 8cm in diameter. It occurs in Little Karoo from E. Oudtshoorn to S. Vanwykskraal in a variety of different geological formations.

Distribution map

There is a huge discussion about using name emelyae or picta. I´m using Gerhard Marx and Ingo Breuer´s name H. picta. Breuer described two variets of picta. Var. janvlokii, which comes from Kammanassie Dam area, it is the largest element and could be connection to comptoniana. (see H. comptoniana article). Var. tricolor was described from Rooiberg area and the features were scabrid leave surface and geographic distribution. But since than several new population have been monitored, in between of Rooiberg and Oudtshoorn, at farm Keurkloof and as well South of Vanwykskraal. That´s why I do not accept this "variety" and keep it under picta.

H. picta belongs to one of most attractive species. It is for sure the Haworthia gem, the embellishment of our collections. It is generally non-proliferous and is easy propagated by seeds.

Synonyms:
H. blackburniae (V.Poelln.), H. correcta, H. emelyae, H. picta var. tricolor