Haworthia retusa var. nigra

H. retusa var. nigra, Kransriviermond

Haworthia retusa var. nigra M.B.Bayer

nigra: black.

H. retusa var. nigra, previously described as variety of mutica, is kind of transition between retusa and mutica. It is generally non-proliferous species with rosette 6-8 cm in diameter. Leaves are light green to very dark green. It was originally described from Kransriviermond from a very dark clone = that´s why the name. However the rest of the population in other localities are "normal" green. 

Distribution area of var. nigra is around Heidelberg, to the South up to Kransriviermond, in the West up to half way to the Swellendam and to the East, to the Spitskop. It is much more widespread than first thought. Very strenge form is at Morning Star farm, where some clones are smooth and others very rough on leaves, may be it´s due to the near mirabilis population (300m). Near Spitskop, W of Riversdale occurs some intermediate forms with retusa, same as in population at Pienaarsrivier. NW of Heidelberg, at Klipdrift is a population with signs of turgida. I. Breuer use name H. chromutica for this species.

Distribution map

Some forms are very attractive and well known in cultivation. Propagation should be done by seed, leave offsetts or seldom by cuttings.

Synonym:
H. mutica var. nigra, H. otzenii, H. chromutica

Known localities:

• Kransriviermond (3420BB)
• Heidelberg (3420BB)
• Diepkloof (3420BB)
• E. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• 2 km W. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• N. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• S. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• Morning Star (3420BB)
• NW. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• Klipdrift (3420BB)
• near Spitskop (3421AA)
• Pienaarsrivier (3421AA)
• Goedverwachting (3420BA)

 

Haworthia retusa aff. nigra, near Pienaarsrivier, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa aff. nigra, near Pienaarsrivier, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa aff. nigra, near Pienaarsrivier, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa aff. nigra, near Pienaarsrivier, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. retusa aff. nigra, near Pienaarsrivier, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, East, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, East, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, East, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, East, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, East, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Goedverwachting, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Goedverwachting, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Goedverwachting, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia retusa var. nigra, Goedverwachting, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. retusa var. nigra, Goedverwachting, NEW PHOTO

H. retusa aff. nigra, Morning Star

H. retusa aff. nigra, Morning Star

H. retusa aff. nigra, Morning Star

H. retusa aff. nigra, Morning Star

H. retusa aff. nigra, Morning Star

Locality of H. retusa aff. nigra, Morning Star

H. retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, West

H. retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, West

H. retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, West

H. retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, West

Locality of H. retusa var. nigra, Diepkloof, West

H. retusa var. nigra, Kransriviermond

H. retusa var. nigra, Kransriviermond

H. retusa var. nigra, Kransriviermond

Locality of H. retusa var. nigra, Kransriviermond

H. retusa var. nigra, Van Rheenen´s Crest, W. Heidelberg

H. retusa var. nigra, Van Rheenen´s Crest, W. Heidelberg

H. retusa var. nigra, Van Rheenen´s Crest, W. Heidelberg

Locality of H. retusa var. nigra, Van Rheenen´s Crest, W. Heidelberg

H. retusa aff. nigra, Pretoriuskop, W. Riversdale

H. retusa aff. nigra, Pretoriuskop, W. Riversdale

H. retusa aff. nigra, Pretoriuskop, W. Riversdale

Locality of H. retusa aff. nigra, Pretoriusskop, W. Riversdale

H. retusa aff. nigra, W. Pretoriuskop, W. Riversdale

H. retusa aff. nigra, W. Pretoriuskop, W. Riversdale

H. retusa aff. nigra, W. Pretoriuskop, W. Riversdale

Locality of H. retusa aff. nigra, W. Pretoriuskop, W. Riversdale

H. retusa var. nigra, NW. Heidelberg

H. retusa var. nigra, NW. Heidelberg

H. retusa var. nigra, NW. Heidelberg

H. retusa var. nigra, NW. Heidelberg

Locality of H. retusa var. nigra, NW. Heidelberg

H. retusa var. nigra aff., Klipdrift

H. retusa var. nigra aff., Klipdrift

H. retusa var. nigra aff., Klipdrift

H. retusa var. nigra aff., Klipdrift

H. retusa var. nigra aff., Klipdrift

Locality of H. retusa var. nigra aff., Klipdrift