Haworthia pygmaea

Haworthia pygmaea, Georgeheim, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea V.Poelln.

pygmaea: dwarf.

H. pygmaea is characterized by scabrid or papillate leaf surfaces, the leaf-end areas are flattish and the leaf-tips rounded. The name "pygmaea" applied by Poellnitz refers to small size. In nature it is smaller plant with few leaves, up to 4 cm in diameter and remain solitairy. It has darker-bluish green colour, with leaves smooth or occasionally with small tubercles. In cultivation it grows much bigger and it is slowly offsetting species. Typical habitat are flat grassy areas or low slopes, where it grows amongst the grass and stones, usually very well hidden.

Distribution map

Distribution area is around Great Brak and Mossel Bay in Western Cape. In nature it occurs near H. parksiana, H. chloracantha var. denticulifera and H. kingiana. To the West it is connected with the var. argenteo-maculosa and around Mossgas it is difficult to distinguish between them. Form of pygmaea growing near Herbetsdale at Kransdrift was described by Breuer as asperata, it has much more numerous leaves with light green colour and it is generally smaller. At Towerlands, W. Herbetsdale is growing interesting form with bluish rounded leaves, possibly it can be intermediate form towards turgida var. suberecta. The habitat situation here is very different from normal pygmaea, it grows high in the mountains in proteas.
 
H. pygmaea is slowly proliferous species. It is easy to propagate by seed. In cultivation it grows without problems.

Haworthia pygmaea, Greatbrak River

Known localities:

• Great Brak (3422AA)
• near Great Brak (3422AA)
• E. Great Brak (3422AA)
• W. Great Brak (3422AA)
• Dumbie Dykes (3422AA)
• Duinzicht, Mossel Bay (3422AA)
• E. Mossgas (3422AA)
• Green Haven (3422AA)
• Klein Brak Rivier, near school (3422AA)
• NW. Great Brakrivier (3422AA)
• near Herbetsdale (3421BB)
• Hartenbos Hills (3422AA)
• Rooikat (3422AA)
• Hartenbosch (3422AA)
• Georgeheim (3422AA)

Haworthia pygmaea, Rooikat, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Rooikat, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Rooikat, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Rooikat, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. pygmaea, Rooikat, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbos Hills, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbos Hills, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbos Hills, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbos Hills, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. pygmaea, Hartenbos Hills, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Georgeheim, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Georgeheim, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Georgeheim, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Georgeheim, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. pygmaea, Georgeheim, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbosch, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbosch, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbosch, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbosch, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea, Hartenbosch, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. pygmaea, Hartenbosch, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia pygmaea,  N of Kleinbrak River

H. pygmaea / pygmaea v. argenteo-maculosa, Duinzicht, near Mossgas

H. pygmaea / pygmaea v. argenteo-maculosa, Duinzicht, near Mossgas

H. pygmaea / pygmaea v. argenteo-maculosa, Duinzicht, near Mossgas

H. pygmaea / pygmaea v. argenteo-maculosa, Duinzicht, near Mossgas

H. pygmaea, Rooiheuwel

H. pygmaea, Rooiheuwel

Locality of H. pygmaea, Rooiheuwel

H. pygmaea, Green Heaven, Great Brak

H. pygmaea, Green Heaven, Great Brak

Locality of H. pygmaea, Green Heaven, Great Brak

Haworthia pygmaea, Greatbrak River

Haworthia pygmaea, Greatbrak River

Haworthia pygmaea, Greatbrak River

Haworthia pygmaea,  N of Kleinbrak River

Haworthia pygmaea,  N of Kleinbrak River

Haworthia pygmaea,  N of Kleinbrak River

Haworthia pygmaea,  N of Kleinbrak River

Locality of H. pygmaea,  N of Kleinbrak River

H. pygmaea 'asperata', Kransdrift, Herbetsdale

H. pygmaea 'asperata', Kransdrift, Herbetsdale

H. pygmaea 'asperata', Kransdrift, Herbetsdale

H. pygmaea 'asperata', Kransdrift, Herbetsdale

Locality of H. pygmaea 'asperata', Kransdrift, Herbetsdale