Haworthia herbacea

Haworthia herbacea Sandberg

Haworthia herbacea (Mill.) Stearn

herbacea: yellow-green

H. herbacea is small, stemless, proliferous species, the size varies from 35 mm to 80 mm. Leaves are greenish-yellow coloured, margins and keel covered with firm spines. It is charasteric by its large flowers which are white (beige) with pinkish tips - not like in case of H. reticulata, where they are more yellowish. H. herbacea flowers in late winter (South African = Septemeber - October). Name herbacea is quite "problematic", it has been aplicated in past on many different species - see the long list of synonyms below.

Distribution map

H. herbacea grows in Worcester area. Plants from McGregor were described as var. paynei (see separed article), south into the mountains at Villiersdorp to just north-west of Worcester itself. It is very close to H. reticulata. H. herbacea grows more solitary and more deeply sunk in the ground and is more hairy. There are several populations where H. herbacea and H. reticulata co-occurs and natural hybrids can be found, for example near De Wet. The form of H. herbacea from Villiersdorp mountains has a very large and impressive flower. H. herbacea has direct connection to H. maculata at Brandvlei Dam south of Worcester. At Sanberg it grows very close to H. pubescens and also near Lemoenpoort it grows near H. livida. 

flower of H. herbacea, Brandwacht

Bayer described under H. herbacea three variets: var. flaccida, var. lupula and var. paynei. H. herbacea grows without any problems in cutlivation. Propagation can be done by seeds or offsetts. One of the nicest form is from Bosfontein.

Haworthia herbacea Patryskloof, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia herbacea Patryskloof, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia herbacea Patryskloof, NEW PHOTO

locality of Haworthia herbacea at Patryskloof

H. herbacea, Ouhansberge

H. herbacea, Ouhansberge

H. herbacea, Ouhansberge

H. herbacea, Ouhansberge

Locality of H. herbacea, Ouhansberge

H. herbacea, near Ouhansberge

H. herbacea, Brandwacht

H. herbacea, Brandwacht

H. herbacea, Brandwacht

Locality of H. herbacea, Brandwacht

H. herbacea, Lemoenpoort East

Locality of H. herbacea, Lemoenpoort East

Haworthia herbacea just N. Worcester

Haworthia herbacea just N. Worcester



Haworthia herbacea just N. Worcester

Haworthia herbacea just N. Worcester

Haworthia herbacea Lemoenpoort



Haworthia herbacea Lemoenpoort



Haworthia herbacea Lemoenpoort

Haworthia herbacea Sandberg

Haworthia herbacea Sandberg

Synonyms:
Aloe herbacea, Aloe atrovirens, H. atrovirens, H. arachnoidea var. pumila, Aloe pumila, H. pumila, Aloe translucens, H. pellucens, Aloe arachnoidea var. translucens, H. translucens, H. pallida, H. aegrota, H. submaculata, H. luteorosea, H. arachnoidea (sensu C.L.Scott)

Known localities:

• Karoo Garden (3319CB)
• W. Worcester (3319CB)
• Brandwacht (3319CB)
• SE. Brandvlei Dam (3319CB)
• W. Doornrivier (3319CD)
• Lemoenpoort (3319CD)
• N. Lemoenpoort (3319CD)
• Patryskloof (3319DA)
• De Wet (3319DA)
• Rabiesberg (3319DA)
• Ribbokkop (3319DC)
• Keerweder, Jonaskop (3319DC)
• Nuy (3319DC)
• Mowers (3319DC)
• Wansbeck (3319DC)
• Rabiesdal (3319DD)
• Koningsrivier (3319DD)
• Bosfontein (3319DC)
• Sandberg 3319CB)
• Mowers Station (3319DA)
• between Worcester and Robertson (3319DA)
• 1 km N. Lemoenpoort (3319CD)
• 25 km SW. Worcester (3319CD)
• E. McGregor (3319DD)
• Brandvlei Dam (3319CB)
• Brewelskloof (3319CB)
• McGregor (3319DD)
• N. Worcester (3319CB)
• between Worcester and McGregor (3319DD)
• NE. Villiersdorp (3319CD)
• S. Karoo Garden, Worcester (3319CB)
• Avondrust (3319CD)
• Leipzig