Haworthia mutica

Haworthia mutica, Spitskop, De Hoop
Haworthia mutica Haw.

mutica: without a point.

H. mutica is non-proliferous species with leaves retused, brownish-green, in habitat developing purplish cloudiness with only several longitudinal lines. The name mutica is suggested by the leaf tips which are rounded. It is similar to H. retusa, but they do not meet each other in nature. H. mutica is generally more glaucous than H. retusa and has a characteristic bluish-brown colouration. Another similar species is H. pygmaea, in case of smooth forms the only difference is flower. H. mutica has purplish-veined flowers as opposed to greenish in H. pygmaea.

Distribution map

H. mutica is known from the area west of Breede River. It has a precarious existence in a intensively farmed area and survives only on rocky shale ridges. It shares its distribution area with H. maraisii and some others species like H. russouwii, H. modesta or H. heidelbergensis var. minor are growing nearby.

It was once collected and sold (before World War II) near Drew, but nowadays this locality is taken in by wheat fields. Only a single clone survives in the Karoo Botanic Garden collection - this what Haworthi Revisited book by Bruce Bayer tells. Recently Bayer found few surviving clones there. I explored the area at least 5 times and in 2012  we found a new poppulation with ca 100 plants.


Haworthia mutica, Grootvlakte, NEW PHOTO

I have visited locality near Napky, where on area not bigger than living room, on small rocky ridge is beautiful population of H. mutica and G. carinata surviving in rock crevices. Some of them were eaten by stock, others, well hidden are doing better.

H. mutica should be propagated by seeds or leave cuttings. It grows without any major problems in cultivation.

Haworthia mutica, Grootvlakte, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Grootvlakte, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Grootvlakte, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Grootvlakte, NEW PHOTO
Locality of H. mutica, Grootvlakte, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Middeldrift, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, NE of Tarentaals Rivier, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, NE of Tarentaals Rivier, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, NE of Tarentaals Rivier, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, NE of Tarentaals Rivier, NEW PHOTO
Locality of H. mutica, NE of Tarentaals Rivier, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Ouplaas, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Ouplaas, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Ouplaas, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, Ouplaas, NEW PHOTO
Locality of H. mutica, Ouplaas, NEW PHOTO
Haworthia mutica, S of Klipbankskloof, NEW PHOTO
Locality of H. mutica, S of Klipbankskloof, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia mutica, Dankbaar
Haworthia mutica, Dankbaar
Haworthia mutica, Dankbaar
Locality of H. mutica, Dankbaar
Haworthia mutica, Volmoed South
Haworthia mutica, Volmoed South
Locality of H. mutica, Volmoed South
Haworthia mutica, Rietfontein
Haworthia mutica, Rietfontein
Haworthia mutica, Rietfontein
Locality of H. mutica, Rietfontein
Haworthia mutica, Volmoed West
Haworthia mutica, Volmoed West
Haworthia mutica, Volmoed West
Haworthia mutica, Volmoed West
Locality of H. mutica, Volmoed West
Haworthia mutica, Klipbankskloof
Haworthia mutica, Klipbankskloof
Haworthia mutica, Klipbankskloof
Haworthia mutica, Klipbankskloof
Locality of H. mutica, Klipbankskloof
Haworthia mutica, Sandrift, Drew - old locality
Haworthia mutica, Sandrift, Drew - old locality
Haworthia mutica, Sandrift, Drew - old locality
These plants are from the original Bayers spot at Drew. He mentioned in his Haworthia Revisited, that nothing is left on this locality. But luckily he found few surviving plants there (plants above). After four attempts to locate them in the area, in 2012 we were finally successful and on top of that we found a new spot with more than a hundred of plants. None of them had this white clouds, but plants were beautiful - see below. 


Haworthia mutica, Sandrift, Drew - new locality
Haworthia mutica, Sandrift, Drew - new locality
Haworthia mutica, Sandrift, Drew - new locality
Haworthia mutica, Sandrift, Drew - new locality
Haworthia mutica, Spitskop, De Hoop
Haworthia mutica, Spitskop, De Hoop
Haworthia mutica, Spitskop, De Hoop
Locality of H. mutica, Spitskop, De Hoop
Haworthia mutica, Hassiesdrift
Haworthia mutica, Hassiesdrift
Haworthia mutica, Hassiesdrift
Locality of H. mutica, Hassiesdrift
Haworthia mutica, Rondeheuwel

Haworthia mutica, Rondeheuwel



Haworthia mutica, Napky

Haworthia mutica, Napky
Haworthia mutica, Napky

Synonym:
H. otzenii

Known localities:
  • N. Drew (3320CC)
  • Drew (3320CC)
  • E. Riviersonderend (3419BB)
  • 10 km E. Riviersonderend (3419BB)
  • Klipdale (3419DB)
  • E. Stormsvlei (3420AA)
  • Noukloof (3420AA)
  • Rietfontein (3420AA)
  • Crodini (3420AB)
  • Soesriver (3420AC)
  • Kykoedie (3420AC)
  • N. Kykoedie (3420AC)
  • Badjieskraal (3420AC)
  • Haarwegskloof (3420AD)
  • NE. Bredasdorp
  • N. Protem (3420AA)
  • 25 km NE. Bredasdorp (3420AC)
  • SE. Heidelberg (3420BB)
  • Melkboom (3421AA)
  • Rondeheuwel (3420AA)
  • Stormsvlei (3420AA)
  • Riviersonderend (3419BB)
  • E. Heidelberg (3420BB)
  • Volmoed (3420AA)
  • Napky (3420AC)
  • Buffeljags (3420AA)
  • Grootvlakte (3420AA)
  • Middeldrift (3420AD)
  • NE. Tarentaals River (3420AD)
  • Ouplaas (3420AD)
  • Klipbankskloof (3420AC)
  • S. Klipbankskloof (3420AC)
  • Dankbaar (3420AB)
  • Hassiesdrift (3420AC)
  • Spitskop (3420BC)
  • Tarentaal (3420AD)

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