All you wanted to know about Haworthias

Haworthia tessellata

2012-01-23T23:02:00.000+01:00

H. tessellata, near Eksteenfontein, photo by Bertus

Haworthia tessellata Haw.

tessellata: square-patterned.

H. tessellata is one of the most widespread and also variable Haworthia. Rosette is stemless, with square patterned lines on leaves, lower surface is usually slightly scabrid. It occurs primarily in the summer rainfall area. Usually it is very proliferous or stoloniferous, it forms clusters in nature and fill in the space it has - shady place under the bush or in rock crevices.

There was a examination of chromosone numbers done by Motohashi et al. They found that polyploidy is common. Hexaploids and octaploids appear to dominate to north-east, while tetraploids do so in the north-west and south-east. The number of chromosomes does not matterially affect the appearance of the plants.

Distribution map

H. tessellata grows in very large distribution area as you can see on the atteched map. It is the only Haworthia that grows in Namibia. (May be some arachnoidea as well). In past there were huge number of names amongst this species, but Bayer includes all as synonyms of H. tessellata. I think it was wise decision.

In cultivation it grows quite easily, propgation is done by stolons/offsetts. If you give it right amount of sun light, the nice markings will be more visible and plants more attractive.

H. tessellata, Beaufort West

H. tessellata, Molteno Pass

locality of H. tessellata, Molteno Pass

H. tessellata, 20 km N. Steinkopf, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, Lorelei, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, Anenous Pass, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, Steinkopf, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, just E. Middelpos, photo by I.Breuer

H. tessellata, Bethel, photo by I.Breuer

H. tessellata, Geelhoek, photo by I.Breuer

H. tessellata, Lady Grey, photo by I.Breuer

Synonyms:

Aloe tessellata, H. parva, Aloe parva, H. tessellata var. inflexa, H. tessellata var. parva, H. engleri, H. tessellata var. engleri, H. pseudotessellata, H. tessellata var. tuberculata, H. minutissima, H. tessellata var. minutissima, H. tessellata var. elongata, H. tessellata var. simplex, H. tessellata var. stephaniana, H. tessellata var. luisierii, H. tessellata var. palhinhiae, H. tessellata var. velutina, H. tessellata var. coriacea, H. tessellata var. coriacea forma longior, H. tessellata var. coriacea forma brevior, H. tessellata var. obesa, H. venosa ssp. recurva

Known localities:

Vanzylsrus (2622CC)
Vryburg (2623DC)
Schwarzekuppe, Aurus (2716CB)
Namuskluft (2716DD)
Rosh Pinah (2716DD)
Holoog Station, W. Grünau (2718AC)
near Klein Karas (2718CA)
Signalberg, W. Grünau (2718CA)
Matlaring River (2723AB)
Buxton (2724DB)
Klein Boetsap (2724CD)
S. Ochta (2816BB)
S. Sendelingsdrift (2816BB)
Sendelingsdrift (2816BB)
Hellskloof (2816BD)
Augrabies (2816CB)
Rooiberg (2817AA)
Black Face Mountains (2817CB)
Helskloof (2817CD)
NE. Eksteenfontein (2817CD)
E. Klipbok (2817CD)
Eksteenfontein (2817CD)
Kouefontein (2817CD)
S. Violsdrift (2817DA)
E. Aussenkehr (2817DA)
W. Aussenkehr (2817DA)
Warmbad (2818CA)
Tantalite Valley (2818DB)
W. Pella (2819CC)
Aughrabies (2820CB)
Kakamas (2820DB)
Wegdraai (2821DD)
N. Pofadder (2917AB)
NE. Skimmelberg, NE. Port Nolloth (2917AB)
Skimmelberg, W. Steinkopf (2917AB)
E. Poffader (2917AD)
NE. Umdaus (2917BA)
N. Umdaus (2917BA)
S. Umdaus (2917BA)
Umdaus (2917BA)
Gunhill, Anenous (2917BA)
Arebees (2917BB)
N. Steinkopf (2917BB)
Anenous Pass (2917BB)
Springbok (2917BC)
Kinderle (2917BD)
Koeries (2918BA)
Aggenys (2918BB)
E. Smorenskadu Farm (2918CA)
W. Gamoep (2918DC)
Nuwedam, SE. Poffader (2919AB)
Pofadder (2919AB)
Die Poortse Berge (2919AD)
Spitzkop, N. Port Nolloth (2919AD)
Marydale (2922AA)
Prieska (2922DB)
Mazelsfontein (2923BA)
3,6km NW. Campbell (2923DC)
Belmont (2924AD)
Luckhoff (2924DB)
Jagersfontein (2925CB)
Koppies (2925CB)
Veld Reserve (2925CB)
Kromfonteinberg (3017DB)
60 km NNW. Loeriesfontein (3019AD)
Jaagvlakte (3019BD)
Leeuput, Vosburg (3022BD)
Vaalhoek (3022CC)
Omdraaisvlei (3023AA)
N. Britstown (3023BD)
Brakfontein (3023CB)
Twyfelhoek (3023DA)
Vloekpoort (3023DD)
De Aar (3024AD)
P.K. Le Rouxdam (3024BA)
near Petrusville (3024BA)
Philippolis (3025AD)
Bethulie (3025BD)
Colesberg (3025CA)
Kraairivier (3026AB)
Tussen Riviere (3026AC)
near Rouxville (3026BD)
Murraysville (3026CD)
Doctors Drift (3026DA)
Kraai River (3026DD)
Vegkop, 11 km W. Zastron (3027AC)
Lady Grey (3027CA)
Kamelksrivier (3027CA)
Quaggaskop (3118BC)
Ezelskop (3119AA)
Koppieskraal (3119AB)
Vanrhyns Pass (3119AC)
Akkerendam, N. Calvinia (3119BD)
Blouwkranspass, S. Calvinia (3119DB)
Hamberg, Syter (3120AD)
N. Middelpos (3120BA)
Middelpos (3120CC)
Fraisersberg (3121DC)
Pampoenpoort, SE. Carnarvon (3122BA)
Victoria West (3123AC)
Three Sisters (3123CC)
Nuwerus (3123CD)
Cypherwater (3124AD)
Tweedale, Noupoort (3124BB)
Carlton Station, NE of Middelburg (3124BD)
Flouker (3125AC)
Rooispruit (3125AD)
Schoombie (3125AD)
Doringberg, Conway (3125CB)
Thebus (3125BC)
Allemanspoort, S. Jamestown (3126BB)
Bethel (3220AB)
Geelhoek (3220AB)
BO Fish River (3220AC)
Granietberge, N. Sutherland (3220BC)
Otterkuil, NW. Sutherland (3220BC)
Sutherland (3220BC)
Beaufort West (3222BC)
Aarfontein (3221AD)
Karoo Park (3222BA)
E. Molteno Pass (3222BC)
Molteno Pass (3222BC)
Road to Loxton (3222BC)
Stolshoek (3222BD)
Nelspoort (3223AA)
Redcilffe (3223BA)
Valley of Desolation, Graaff-Reinet (3224AD)
Aberdeen Road (3223CD)
Mt. Zebra Park (3225AD)
Halesowen (3225BA)
old road between Steytlerville and Uitenhage (3324BC)

Haworthia granulata

2012-01-23T18:44:00.002+01:00

H. granulata, Appelsfontein

Haworthia granulata Marl.

granulata: granulate.

H. granulata is species from Ceres Karoo, where it is quite widely distributed. It grows in high rocky mountainous areas as well as in flat amongs small bushes and stones. It is usually caulescent and forming tall erect stems. It offsetts slowly.

Distribution map

H. granulata grows mainly around Ceres and Tanqua Karoo. Very strenge locality is Droekloof, at Touws Rivier, plants are stemless and resembles almost H. venosa or H. tessellata. This place is the Southern most known locality. There is a record from E. Laingsburg from Oskopvlakte and more to the East. This form was described by Hayashi as H. schoemannii. It will be discussed here under this name.

It is not widely cultivated plant, may be because not much material is available from nurseries. In cultivation it grows like H. venosa or H. tessellata - if you have good drained substrate and water it not much, it grows fine. Propagation can be made by offsetts or seed.

H. granulata aff., Droekloof

H. granulata, Appelsfontein

locality of H. granulata, Appelsfontein

H. granulata, Bantamsfontein

locality of H. granulata, Bantamsfontein

Synonyms:

H. tessellata ssp. granulata

Known localities:

Skitterykloof (3219DC)
N. Karoopoort (3319 (BA)
Ganagas Pass (3220AA)
Ouberg Pass (3220AD)
Bantamsfontein (3220CC)
Verlatenkloof (3220DA)
60 km N. Matjiesfontein (3220DA)
Touwsrivier, Avondrust (3320AC)
Witbergsrivier (3320BD)
Patatsrivier
Droekloof (3320AD)
Appelsfontein (3220DA)
near Bizansgat (3220CC)

Haworthia mucronata var. habdomadis

2012-01-22T23:26:00.001+01:00

H. mucronata var. habdomadis, Seweweekspoort

Haworthia mucronata var. habdomadis (V.Poelln.) M.B.Bayer

habdomadis: referring to the Seweweekspoort

H. mucronata var. habdomadis is a "mucronata" element from area around Seweweekspoort. It grows in a sandstone, it is slowly proliferous species. Some forms has spined leaves others not. Leaves are broader and shorter than in var. mucronata. North of Seweweekspoort grows some intermediate form of H.decipiens, H. arachnoidea and maybe var. habdomadis is mixed there too.

Distribution map

In cultivation to me all mucronata group is a bit tricky - sensitive to too much water in wrong time. Propagation by seed, sometimes by offsetts.

H. mucronata var. habdomadis, Seweweekspoort

locality of H. mucronata var. habdomadis, Seweweekspoort

Known localities:

Dwarsrivier (3321AC)
Swartbergkloof (3321AC)
Seweweekspoort (3321AD)
lower Seweweekspoort (3321AD)

Haworthia floribunda var. dentata

2012-01-16T22:04:00.002+01:00

H. floribunda var. dentata, Schoemanshoek

Haworthia floribunda var. dentata M.B.Bayer

dentata: toothed.

H. floribunda var. dentata is a "smallest" from the floribunda species. In diameter it reaches 2-3 cm, leaves are very dark green, scabrid and with spined margins. It distribution area is from Swellendam in the West up to Albertinia in the East.

Distribution map of H. floribunda var. dentata

In the East near Gouritzmond it is connect to H. chloracantha var. denticulifera, which occurs at the Mossel Bay - Klein Brak area. Ingo Breuer uses name H. dentata for this species.

H. floribunda var. dentata, Schoemanshoek

Locality of H. floribunda var. dentata, Schoemanshoek

Known localities:

Bontebok Park (3420BA)
E. Buffeljachts (3420BA)
W. Riversdale (3421AA)
5 km N. Riversdale (3421AB)
15 km E. Riversdale (3421AB)
Dassiesklip (3421AC)
Wydersrivier (3421BA)
NE. Riversdale (3421AB)
NWN. Vleesbay, near Johnsons Post (3421BD)
Albertinia (3421BA)
Cooper Station (3421BB)
Draaihoek, N. Albertinia (3421BB)
N. Gouritzmond (3421BD)
Schoemanshoek (3421BA)

Haworthia floribunda var. major

2012-01-16T21:31:00.002+01:00

H. floribunda var. major, Swellendam

Haworthia floribunda var. major M.B.Bayer

major: larger.

H. floribunda var. major was described by Bruce Bayer from Swellendam area. The plants are generally larger, have up to 15 cm long leaves. They are lighter green in colour. In nature it forms small clusters and same in cultivation - it offsetts quite easy.

Distribution map of H. floribunda var. major

I have observed plants directly at Swellendam under the gum trees, they grow in open just amongs the dead leaves and other things with no protection by stones or grass.

Hayashi and Breuer use a name H. kondoi for this species (because of not using variets in their classifications).

H. floribunda var. major, Swellendam

Known localities:

Below Swellendam Station (3420AB)
S. Swellendam (3420AB)
Swellendam (3420AB)

Haworthia floribunda

2012-01-16T20:16:00.002+01:00

H. floribunda, Platkop

Haworthia floribunda V.Poelln.

floribunda: many-flowered

H. floribunda is small, stemless plant with dark green ovate-lanceolate leaves. Leave margins are scabrid to dentate. Leaves are twisted with flattened rounded tip. It is slowly proliferous species. It grows well shaded amongs grass or lichen and moss, like parksiana grow as well.

Distribution of H. floribunda

H. floribunda grows in the area from Swellendam in the West, Potberg in the South and Albertinia in the East. In the East it is connected to H. parksiana and H. chloracantha. This eastern form was described by Bruce Bayer as var. dentata. At Herbetsdale I have observed populations which resembled in one hand H. chloracantha and in the other hand H. floribunda. I will publish some photos later. In the West of Swellendam was described again by Bruce Bayer new variety major. In the South, at Potberg is growing a "form" in between of H. maraisii and H. floribunda. This form was described by Hayashi as H. henda.

At some places it hybrides with other Haworthia species - N. Heidelberg, at the type locality, are known hybrids with H. turgida. At Cooper Station is reported hybrid with H. pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa. At Korinte road is growing a hybgrid between H. floribunda and H. retusa.

H. floribunda in cultivation is not difficult, just be careful with too much water. It needs a bit shady conditions. Propagation can by done by offsetts or seed.

H. floribunda, Platkop

locality of H. floribunda at Platkop

H. floribunda, Kruisrivier W.

locality of H. floribunda at Kruisrivier

At Kruisrivier H. floribunda grows together with H. minima and very close to H. retusa / magnifica.

H. floribunda, Kruisrivier E.

Known localities:

6 km N. Heidelberg (3420BB)
Heidelberg commonage (3420BB)
Blackdown, N. Heidelberg (3420BB)
NE. Riversdale (3421AB)
NW. Riversdale (3421AB)
Bontebok National Park (3420AB)
Dassieklip, S. Heidelberg (3420BD)
Kranshoek, Herbertsdale (3321DD)
Kruisrivier (3421AB)
Oudevloek (3420BB)
Platkop (3421AB)
Rose Inn Drive, E. Riversdale (3421AB)
Snijmanskraal, W. Albertinia (3421BA)

Haworthia globifera

2010-10-30T11:36:00.004+02:00

Haworthia globifera, Wolverfontein, SE. Anysberg

Haworthia globifera (M.B.Bayer) I.Breuer

globifera: forming globose clusters and rosettes.

H. globifera is small, glabrous, slightly stem forming species which is forming clusters. It was described originaly as a variety of H. pulchella. The leaves are pale yellow in winter and rich red in summer. To compare it with H. pulchella, H. globifera requires less protection, it can be grown on more sunny place.

Distribution map

H. globifera is known from SE. Anysberg. It grows high on the north slopes, which are very hot in summer. Near by is also growing H. blackburnia, H. arachnoidea (var. nigricans?) and H. viscosa.

H. globifera is now quite wide-spread in cultivation. It grows without any major problems, propagation can be done by seeds or offsetts.

Haworthia globifera, Wolverfontein, SE. Anysberg

Locality of Haworthia globifera, Wolverfontein, SE. Anysberg

Synonym:
H. pulchella var. globifera

Known locality:

SE. Anysberg (3320DB)

Haworthia livida

2010-10-30T11:10:00.003+02:00

Haworthia livida, Lemoenpoort

Haworthia livida (M.B.Bayer) I.Breuer

livida: bluish-grey

H. livida is a small compact species, which was originaly described as a variety of H. pubescens. It grows solitairy, has broader leaves than H. pubescens, which are less pubescent and numerous. Leaves have with partly pellucid spots.

Map of distribution

H. livida is known from Lemoenpoort, where it grows high on the slopes. It occurs deep buried in the sandy soil, well hidden from predator eyes. Close by is growing H. herbacea and H. maxima.

It is still quite rare species in cultivation. Propagation should be done by seed.

Haworthia livida, Lemoenpoort

Haworthia livida, Lemoenpoort

Haworthia livida, Lemoenpoort

locality of Haworthia livida, Lemoenpoort

Synonym:
H. pubescens var. livida

Known locality:

S. Lemoenpoort (3319CD)

Haworthia maculata

2010-10-23T21:10:00.005+02:00

Haworthia maculata, near Brandvlei Dam

Haworthia maculata (V.Poelln.) M.B.Bayer

maculata: spotted.

H. maculata is smaller, proliferous species with purplish-green spotted leaves, it has short spines on leave margins and keel. It has yellowish flower in throat, which is similar to H. herbacea and H. reticulata. It flowers in October / November. It possibly integrates with H. herbacea, which grows in same area, but it differs because of fewer and more turgid leaves. H. maculata grows in quartzitic stones and plants are very cryptic. On full sun they get nice redddish colour.

Map of distribution

H. maculata grows mainly near Worcester at Brandvlei Dam area. There is an unusual population from Audenberg Peak, N. of Worcester. More eastwards towards Robertson occurs forms, which are similar to H. notabilis (described as var. intermedia). H. maculata grows in quartzitic stones and plants are very cryptic. On full sun they get nice redddish colour. In the general area are growing H. herbacea, H. maraisii, H. pubescens, H. livida, H. reticulata, H. arachnoidea and of course H. maxima.

Propagation of H. maculata can be done by seeds or offsets. It is an easy species and if it is nicely grown, it can be very decorative.

Haworthia maculata, near Brandvlei Dam

Haworthia maculata, near Brandvlei Dam

Haworthia maculata, near Brandvlei Dam

Haworthia maculata, near Brandvlei Dam

locality of Haworthia maculata, near Brandvlei Dam

Synonymum:
H. schuldtiana var. maculata

Known localities:

Brandvlei dam (3319CB)
NE. Brandvlei dam (3319CB)
Audensberg Peak (3319CB)
Moddergat (3319CB)
Keeromsberg, Boskloof (3319DA)
S. Sandhills (3319DA)
E. Brandvlei (3319CB)
Die Nekkies (3319CB)
Old yacht club near Brandvlei dam (3319CB)

Haworthia calcarea

2010-10-23T20:34:00.003+02:00

Haworthia calcarea, De Hoop

Haworthia calcarea (M.B.Bayer) I.Breuer

calcarea: pertaining to lime.

H. calcarea is species with shorter erect leaves, with a short retused end area. It is nice compact and proliferous, it forms large clusters. In case it grows more exposed, it tends to have yellow-reddish colour, but more often they grows hidden amongst bushes and other vegetation, in that case they remains green. It was discovered by C. Burgers.

Map of distribution

H. calcarea is known only from De Hoop nature reserve. It occurs on limestone on low laying areas. In habitat it grows with nice compact form of Gasteria verrucosa. Nearby, at Potberg area, grows many other Haworthia species - H. heidelbergensis, H. floribunda (and their intermediate forms), H. maraisii, H. modesta, H. minima or H. variegata var. hemicrypta. In cultivation it is very easy species, propagation is usually done by offsetts.

Haworthia calcarea, De Hoop

locality of Haworthia calcarea, De Hoop

Synonym:
H. mirabilis var. calcarea

Known locality:

De Hoop (3420AD)
NE. Buffelsfontein (3420AD)

Haworthia beukmannii

2010-10-17T08:53:00.003+02:00

Haworthia beukmannii, Nethercourt

Haworthia beukmannii V.Poelln.

beukmannii: for C. Beukman.

H. beukmannii is a very robust, slowly proliferous species. It has strongly retused leaves and spined margins. Plants grows in restrictive shale cracks between Greyton and Riviersonderend. In the general area around it grows close to H. triebneriana.
In nature plants has few smaller leaves, but in cultivation they grow very large.

Distribution map

H. beukmannii is not difficult species in cultivation, in good sun light it has nice colour. Propagation should be done by seed or leave cuttings.

Haworthia beukmannii, Nethercourt

Haworthia beukmannii, Nethercourt

Haworthia beukmannii, Nethercourt

Haworthia beukmannii, Nethercourt

locality of Haworthia beukmannii, Nethercourt

Synonym:
H. mirabilis var. beukmannii

Known localities:

Skuitsberg (3419BA)
Nethercourt (3419BA)

Haworthia badia

2010-07-25T22:41:00.004+02:00

Haworthia badia, Kleinberg, W. Napier

Haworthia badia V.Poelln.

badia: reddish-brown

H. badia is one of the most beautifull species from mirabilis group. It is a quit robust, usually solitairy species. Leaves are attenuate, colour is shiny brown when grows on full sun. It grows in sandstone derived depauperate clay. In habitat you can find it under low fynbos vegetation or amongs small pebbles and grass.

Map of distribution

H. badia is know from few localities W. Napier. Type locality was nearly destroyed by quarrying activities and also invasion by alien vegetation. There are some plants still surviving around the quarry and highr on the hill near the top. Nearby is locality of H. mirabilis and H. triebneriana, but they are well separated from each other.

H. badia is a slow growing species, which should be propagated by seeds or leave cuttings. You have to be patient with it, but when it grows larger, it becomes very attractive.

Haworthia badia, Kleinberg, W. Napier

locality of Haworthia badia, Kleinberg, W. Napier

Synonym:
H. mirabilis subs. badia, H. mirabilis var. badia

Known localities:

Napier (3419BD)
3 km Napier to Caledon (3419BD)
Sandfontein (3419BD)
4 km W. Napier (3419BD)
Kleinberg, W. Napier (3419BD)

Haworthia asema

2010-07-25T22:03:00.006+02:00

Haworthia asema, Buffelskloof

Haworthia asema (M.B.Bayer) I.Breuer

asema: without distinguishing marks

H. asema is small compact species forming dense clusters, which can reach almost 1 meter in diameter. It has uniformly grey-green shorter leaves without spines or teeths. It has less branching and more succulent root systems than H. monticola, where it was previously placed.

Distribution map

H. asema is known only from few localities around Calitzdorp. It can be very easily propagated by offsetts and in cultivation it grows without any problems.

Haworthia asema, Buffelskloof

Haworthia asema, Buffelskloof

Haworthia asema, Buffelskloof

locality of Haworthia asema, Buffelskloof

Synonyms:
H. monticola var. asema

Known localities:

Besemkop, Calitzdorp (3321DA)
S. Kruisrivier, 18 km ENE. Calitzdorp (3321DB)
Buffelskloof (3321DB)
Kruisrivier (3321DB)
Kraaldorn (3321DA)

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa'

2010-04-12T09:58:00.010+02:00

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Ballyfar

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa' M.B.Bayer

H. mirabilis 'pilosa' is species which belongs to the mirabilis group. It is characteristic by its leave shape and color. Some locality forms has beautiful short hairs on top of the leave, which is quite unique features in these group of Haworthias.

In nature it has only 4-6 leaves, its size is about 3-4 cm in diameter. It grows burried in the ground. It grows between small stones and grass, usually in open terrain. Pilosa remains solitairy.

Ingo Breuer in his new taxonomy use for this plant name H. bobii, which is not yet valid. I will wait till it will be described formaly and change the name here...

Map of distribution

H. mirabilis 'pilosa' grows W of Infanta on several localities along Breede River. I have observed plants in two localities. Near Ballyfar it was superb hairy form, which grows on stony very low hill overlooking Breede River, other place was more to the West, closer to Diepkloof, where it grows on gently slopes much further on from the river.

H. mirabilis 'pilosa' is one of the most attractive species - may be due it´s recently description. It is not easy to buy it somewhere, but in future I hope it will be accessible to more people. In cultivation it grows much bigger - I have seen plants 5-8 cm in diameter with numerous leaves.

Propagation should be done by seeds or leave cuttings. Conditions for growing are similar to those of mirabilis or picta group.

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Ballyfar

locality of Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Ballyfar

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Stoffelsrivier

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Stoffelsrivier

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Stoffelsrivier

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Stoffelsrivier

Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Stoffelsrivier

locality of Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa', Stoffelsrivier

Known localities:

Ballyfar, Infanta
Stoffelsrivier farm
Melkhoutrivier farm
Lower Breede river

Haworthia arachnoidea var. scabrispina

2009-11-23T22:54:00.009+01:00

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, N. Baviaan, NEW PHOTO

Haworthia arachnoidea var. scabrispina M.B.Bayer
scabrispina: rough-spined.

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina is on of the nicest element from "arachnoidea" group. It has roundish rosette, which is raised above the ground, its size is up to 15 cm in diameter. Numerous dark green leaves are covered with hard stiff spines. Younger plants are more white, when it grows older, spines tends to have brownish colour. It remains single or sometimes it forms small clumps.

Map of distribution

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina occurs in area around Laingsburg. It grows usually on more shadier south-facing slopes. I have seen plants growing under bushes or totally exposed on rocks - this was near Floriskraal Dam, S. Laingsburg. It co-occurs with H. pehlemanniae - near Laingsburg it self and S. of the town, where it grows very close to H. lockwoodii, H. viscosa, H. pehlemanniae and H. archeri. Near Koup Station, W. Laingsburg it grows together with H. albispina.

H. alpispina is very similar in shape, just more white in colour when mature, but the main difference is in flower - it has flower of H. pehlemanniae. I haven´t seen unfortunately the flower in nature. SW of Laingsburg is growing H. archeri var. dimorpha, which has some affinities with it. S of the town, near Rooinek Pass is growing H. isomorpha, which has more darker rosette and has flower of dimorpha. Another "arachnoid" element, H. joubertii, occurs more to the SE of Laingsburg.

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil, S. Laingsburg

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina is still not much common in cultivation - just few plants usually from tissue culture are seen. It is also not easy plant, quite slow and needs little shadier place. Propagation must be done by seeds.

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil, S. Laingsburg

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, N. Baviaan, NEW PHOTOS

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, N. Baviaan, NEW PHOTO

locality of H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, N. Baviaan, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil, S. Laingsburg

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Oskopvlakte, E. Laingsburg

near Oskopvlakte, E. Laingsburg

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Koup Station, E. Laingsburg

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Floriskraal Dam

near Floriskraal Dam

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil, S. Laingsburg

Synonym:
H. arachnoidea var. gigas

Known localities:

35 km N. Laingsburg (3220DC)
Schoppelmaaikraal (3221CD)
N. Baviaans Station (3320BA)
Whitehill Ridge (3320BA)
Laingsburg (3320BB)
Nougaspoort (3320CA)
near Oskopvlakte (3321AA)
near Koup Station (3321AB)
Viskuil, S. Laingsburg (3320BB)
near Floriskraal Dam (3320BD)
5 km W. Laingsburg (3320BB)
Middelplaas, S. Laingsburg (3320BB)
1 km N. Koup Station (3321AB)

2. day - from Robertson to Montagu

2009-10-04T17:04:00.010+02:00

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Map - red marks show visited area of that day

Early morning at Agterkliphoogte farm

Agterkliphoogte farm

Night was much more pleasant than the first one in Worcester, so my colleagues weren´t so frozen in the morning. Before they finished their morning coffee, I quickly had a look behind the guest house and found there beautiful large H. maxima. I took few pictures and than we quickly continued further on our way.

H. maxima, Agterkliphoogte farm

Sandberg, SW. Robertson

We continued back to Robertson and on the way we shortly stopped to explore interesting hill near the road. We were lucky and met immediately farmer and he gave us permission to explore that hill. Just behind the fence was growing again H. maxima. On top of the hill I found very nice and robust form of H. maraisii. Beautiful Protea sp. was flowering near by.

H. maraisii, Agterkliphoogte farm

H. maraisii, Agterkliphoogte farm

Protea sp., Agterkliphoogte farm

Kranskop

Our next stop was near hill called Kranskop. After long climb we found on top of that hill H. notabilis. Some of them were growing in shade, others full exposed on sun, well withdrawn in the soil. Other interesting succulents were presented. The view from top of the hill was stunning.

H. notabilis, Kranskop

¨H. notabilis, Kranskop

H. notabilis, Kranskop

Kranskop

Crassula sp, Adromischus sp., Kranskop

Euphorbia sp., Kranskop

Ashton

Than we continued to Ashton. We have visited known locality of H. marginata, but unfortunately - no single plant was found, it seems all are gone. We have seen few interesting natural hybrids of H. marginata X H. maxima. But we found other interesting plants G. disticha, which was growing on foot of the hill and H. maraisii was higher up on slopes.

H. marginata X maxima, Ashton

H. marginata X maxima, H. maxima, Ashton

G. disticha, Ashton

H. maraisii, Ashton

Cogmanskloof

This was place were we wanted to see H. setata "cogmanensis". After not long search we found it few metres above the road. Nice small arachnoid species, which is called "cogmanensis" due to its distribution gap from other setata species. Than we stopped near old force, there were beautiful Aloe sp. and Trichodiadema sp. growing.

H. setata "cogmanensis", Cogmanskloof

Ornithogallum sp., Adromischus sp., Cogmanskloof

Cogmanskloof

Ledebouria sp., Oxalis sp., Cogmanskloof

Trichodiadema sp., Cogmanskloof

near Portjieskloof dam

Last stop of that day was near Portjieskloof dam, where Bruce Bayer found nice form of H. aristata (H. arachnoidea var. nigricans). We found quite dense population of them together with G. disticha.

H. aristata, Portjieskloof

G. disticha, Portjieskloof

G. disticha with H. aristata, Portjieskloof

Portjieskloof

Sad view - some kind of animal has digged out and ate Gasteria and Haworthia too...

We slept at guest farm Eendoon. On the way there we have seen Blue crain, bird which is one of the symbols on South Africa. On the farm they got a couple of ostriches and emus.

Blue craine

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News

2009-10-02T10:01:00.045+02:00

Haworthia granulata aff., Dröekloof

Haworthia & Gasteria page

What is new here?

January 2012

25.1.2012 - 6 New photos of H. picta var. janvlokii published.
25.1.2012 - 25 New photos of Haworthia picta published.
25.1.2012 - 25 New photos of Haworthia bayeri published.
25.1.2012 - 7 New photos of Haworthia blackburniae published.
25.1.2012 - 6 New photos of Haworthia derustensis published.
25.1.2012 - 5 New photos of H. attenuata var. radula published.
25.1.2012 - 6 New photos of Haworthia attenuata published.
25.1.2012 - 6 New photos of Haworthia acuminata published.
25.1.2012 - 11 New photos of H. pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa published.
24.1.2012 - 15 New photos of Haworthia pygmaea published.
23.1.2012 - 4 New photos of Haworthia woolleyi published.
23.1.2012 - Haworthia tessellata page is online.
23.1.2012 - Haworthia granulata page is online.
23.1.2012 - 12 New photos of H. venosa published.
23.1.2012 - 24 New photos of H. marginata published.
23.1.2012 - 7 New photos of H. marxii published.
22.1.2012 - 8 New photos of H. mucronata var. calitzdorpensis published.
22.1.2012 - Haworthia mucronata var. habdomadis page is online.
16.1.2012 - Haworthia floribunda var. dentata page is online.
16.1.2012 - Haworthia floribunda var. major page is online.
16.1.2012 - Haworthia floribunda page is online.
16.1.2012 - 6 New photos of H. graminifolia published.
14.1.2012 - 33 New photos of H. retusa published.

April 2011
3.4.2011 - 26 New photos of H. arachnoidea var. aranea published.
3.4.2001 - 10 New photos and some comments on H. splendens published.
3.4.2011 - 10 New photos of H. archeri var. dimorpha published.

October 2010
30.10.2010 - 9 New photos of H. fusca published
30.10.2010 - Haworthia globifera page is online
30.10.2010 - Haworthia livida page is online
23.10.2010 - 15 New photos of H. magnifica published
23.10.2010 - Haworthia maculat a page is online
23.10.2010 - Haworthia calcare a page is online
20.10.2010 - 5 New photos of H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina published
17.10.2010 - Haworthia beukmannii page is online16.10.2010 - 13 New photos of H. devriesii published
16.10.2010 - 7 New photos of H. herbacea var. paynei published
16.10.2010 - 7 New photos of H. elizeae published
16.10.2010 - 6 New photos of H. esterhuizenii published
16.10.2010 - 6 New photos of H. floccosa published
6.10.2010 - 18 New photos of H. herbacea published

July 201025.7.2010 - Haworthia asema page is online
25.7.2010 - Haworthia badia page is online
25.7.2010 - 7 New photos of H. lockwoodii published

May 2010

26.5.2010 - 26 New photos of H. mutica published

19.5.2010 - New Home page!

April 2010

12.4.2010 - Haworthia mirabilis 'pilosa' page is now online

12.4.2010 - 8 New photos of Haworthia helmiae are published

11.4.2010 - 15 New photos of Haworthia outeniquensis are published

11.4.2010 - 13 New photos of Haworthia wittebergensis are published

November 2009

24.11.2009 - Haworthia arachnoidea var. scabrispina page is online

October 2009
29.10.2009 - 2nd day of Haworthia&co trip 2009 is now online
1.10.2009 - 1st day of Haworthia&co trip 2009 is now online
1.10.2009 - Great African Succulent Adventure page in online - photos and comments from recent trip to South Africa

September 2009
7.9.2009 - Regular Cactus and Succulent Sales Show in Prague
5.9.2009 - Some details about new book from Bruce Bayer - Essays on Haworthia, Volume 5.

August 2009
31.8.2009 - I have just returned from 2 months trip to southern Africa, you can expact here in near future more than 6000 new photos!

April 2009
5.4.2009 - 3 new photos of H. maraisii published
3.4.2009 - New article from M.B.Bayer - "Classification and taxonomy"
3.4.2009 - New article from M.B.Bayer - "H. jakubii - Another new species?"
3.4.2009 - Section "Articles" was created

March 2009
31.3.2009 - 1 new photo of H. retusa published
31.3.2009 - 1 new photo of H. meiringii published
31.3.2009 - Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha page is online
31.3.2009 - Haworthia archeri page is online
24.3.2009 - Haworthia nortieri page is online
24.3.2009 - Haworthia parksiana page is online
24.3.2009 - Haworthia reddii page is online
23.3.2009 - Haworthia marxii page is online

February 2009
27.2.2009 - Bruce Bayer´s updated list of accepted names published
8.2.2009 - 5 new photos of H. pygmaea published
8.2.2009 - Haworthia pulchella page is online
3.2.2009 - Haworthia pringlei page is online
1.2.2009 - Haworthia pilifera page is online
1.2.2009 - Haworthia picturata page is online
1.2.2009 - Haworthia picta var. janvlokii page is online
1.2.2009 - 7 new photos of H. picta published
1.2.2009 - 4 new photos of H. pehlemanniae published

January 2009
28.1.2009 - Haworthia oculata page is online
27.1.2009 - Haworthia outeniquensis page is online
26.1.2009 - 4 new photos of H. pallens published
26.1.2009 - 10 new photos of H. odetteae published
26.1.2009 - Haworthia variegata page is online
26.1.2009 - Haworthia modesta page is online
26.1.2009 - Haworthia petrophila page is online
25.1.2009 - 14 new photos of H. minima published
25.1.2009 - Haworthia mutica page is online
25.1.2009 - 3 new photos of H. nigra var. diversifolia published
25.1.2009 - 37 new photos of H. nigra published
24.1.2009 - Haworthia sakaii page is online (=H. mucronata var. morrisiae)
24.1.2009 - Haworthia mucronata var. calitzdorpensis page is online
24.1.2009 - Haworthia mucronata page is online
24.1.2009 - Haworthia Journals section was created
24.1.2009 - 9 new photos of H. monticola published

Archive - news

News - archive

2009-10-02T09:51:00.003+02:00

November 2008
23.11.2008 - Haworthia paradoxa page is online
23.11.2008 - Haworthia meiringii page is online
22.11.2008 - Haworthia maraisii page is online
22.11.2008 - Haworthia magnifica page is online
20.11.2008 - Trip to Holland, Belgium and Germany - photos
20.11.2008 - 13 new photos of H. marginata published
20.11.2008 - 8 new photos of H. longiana published
17.11.2008 - Haworthia herbacea var. paynei page is online
17.11.2008 - Haworthia herbacea page is online
17.11.2008 - Haworthia calaensis page is online
17.11.2008 - Haworthia caespitosa page is online
02.11.2008 - 6 new photos of H. lockwoodii published
02.11.2008 - Haworthia ligulata page is online
02.11.2008 - 6 new photos of H. davidii published
02.11.2008 - Haworthia leightonii page is online
02.11.2008 - Haworthia koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi page is online
02.11.2008 - Haworthia koelmaniorum page is online
02.11.2008 - 4 new photos of H. kingiana published
02.11.2008 - Haworthia gordoniana page is online

October 2008
28.10.2008 - Photos from Closing the season in Chrudim
27.10.2008 - Photos from Jarda Husner´s collection
27.10.2008 - Photos from colloquium in Pilsen
26.10.2008 - Some new photos from Radka´s and Jirka´s collection added
26.10.2008 - Photos from Tomas Tencik´s collection
25.10.2008 - Photos from Vaclav Prochazka´s collection
21.10.2008 - Autumn sale page is created

September 2008
14.09.2008 - Haworthia cummingii page is online
13.09.2008 - Haworthia attenuata var. radula page is online
12.09.2008 - Haworthia attenuata page is online
12.09.2008 - Haworthia vincentii page is online
08.09.2008 - Haworthia arachnoidea var. aranea page is online
07.09.2008 - 4 new photos of H. transiens
07.09.2008 - Haworthia arachnoidea var. arachnoidea page is online
07.09.2008 - 9 new photos of H. angustifolia var. altissima
06.09.2008 - 27 new photos of H. angustifolia
06.09.2008 -11 new photos of H. acuminata
06.09.2008 - Article and photos from Haworthia meeting in Oberbruch 2008
06.09.2008 - I have scanned more than 2000 slides from Ingo Breuer´s field trips - soon you will find them here!

July 2008
07.07.2008 - Haworthia devriesii page is online
07.07.2008 - Haworthia esterhuizenii page is online
06.07.2008 - Haworthia davidii page is online
06.07.2008 - Haworthia pallens page is online
06.07.2008 - Haworthia splendens page is online
05.07.2008 - Haworthia fasciata page is online
05.07.2008 - Haworthia viscosa page is online
05.07.2008 - "Grid reference" page is online
05.07.2008 - Haworthia maxima page is online
04.07.2008 - Haworthia kingiana page is online
04.07.2008 - Haworthia marginata page is online
04.07.2008 - Photo´s from Spring Prague Succulent and Cacti Exhibition
02.07.2008 - New section "Sources" was created
02.07.2008 - Photo´s from Fanda Vesely´s collection
01.07.2008 - New section "Gasteria Species" was created

June 2008
30.06.2008 - Some new photos from Michal Susser´s collection added
30.06.2008 - Some new photos from Succulent Tissue Culture nursery added
30.06.2008 - Photo´s from Willy Gebruers collection
30.06.2008 - Photo´s from Pavel Smid´s collection
27.06.2008 - Photo´s from Petr Pavelka´s collection
27.06.2008 - Photo´s from Milan Zajpt´s collection
27.06.2008 - Dr. Hayashi visit in Prague
27.06.2008 - Section "Special Events" was created

March 2008
25.03.2008 - Haworthia jansenvillensis page is online
25.03.2008 - Haworthia fusca page is online
25.03.2008 - Haworthia pubescens page is online
22.03.2008 - Haworthia pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa page is online
22.03.2008 - Haworthia pygmaea page is online
06.03.2008 - Haworthia woolleyi page is online
05.03.2008 - Haworthia minima page is online
05.03.2008 - Haworthia graminifolia page is online
04.03.2008 - Haworthia derustensis page is online
03.03.2008 - Haworthia blackburniae page is online

February 2008
27.02.2008 - Haworthia elizeae page is online
26.02.2008 - Haworthia monticola page is online
25.02.2008 - Haworthia bayeri page is online
25.02.2008 - Haworthia venosa page is online
25.02.2008 - Haworthia longiana page is online
24.02.2008 - Haworthia floccosa page is online
23.02.2008 - Haworthia reinwardtii var. brevicula page is online
23.02.2008 - Haworthia reinwardtii page is online
21.02.2008 - Haworthia bolusii page is online
21.02.2008 - Haworthia odetteae page is online
21.02.2008 - Haworthia wittebergensis page is online
21.02.2008 - Haworthia picta page is online
17.02.2008 - Haworthia acuminata page is online
17.02.2008 - Haworthia coarctata page is online
17.02.2008 - Haworthia bruynsii page is online
17.02.2008 - Haworthia glauca page is online
16.02.2008 - Photos from Tonda Krejcik´s collection
16.02.2008 - Haworthia pehlemanniae page is online
16.02.2008 - Haworthia helmiae page is online
16.02.2008 - Haworthia comptoniana page is online
15.02.2008 - Haworthia sordida page is online
15.02.2008 - Haworthia starkiana page is online
15.02.2008 - Haworthia scabra page is online
15.02.2008 - Haworthia lockwoodii page is online
15.02.2008 - Haworthia cooperi var. dielsiana page is online
13.02.2008 - Haworthia transiens page is online
13.02.2008 - Haworthia incurvula page is online
12.02.2008 - Haworthia cymbiformis page is online
12.02.2008 - Haworthia springbokvlakensis page is online
12.02.2008 - Basic introduction to Dr. Hayashi´s taxonomy
11.02.2008 - Haworthia cooperi var. venusta page is online
11.02.2008 - Haworthia nigra var. diversifolia page is online
10.02.2008 - Haworthia nigra page is online
10.02.2008 - Haworthia angustifolia var. altissima page is online
10.02.2008 - Haworthia angustifolia var. paucifolia page is online
10.02.2008 - Haworthia angustifolia var. baylisii page is online
10.02.2008 - Ingo Breuer´s name list published
08.02.2008 - Bruce Bayer´s name list (Spring 2007 version) published
08.02.2008 - Section Taxonomy is created
06.02.2008 - Haworthia retusa page is online
06.02.2008 - Photos from Prague botanic garden Na Slupi
05.02.2008 - Haworthia angustifolia page is online
05.02.2008 - New section "Haworthia species" added
04.02.2008 - http://www.blogger.com/www.haworthia-gasteria.com domain is running!!! 02.02.2008 - Visit in Plzen - Radka´s and Jirka´s collection

January 2008
20.01.2008 - Literature page was added
19.01.2008 - Where to find them? - some maps online
19.01.2008 - Section Habitats was created - localities photos
18.01.2008 - "Hall of fame" - other collections photos
16.01.2008 - Page with Links is working now
08.01.2008 - English version on line

October 2007
19.10.2007 - Czech version on line

1. day - from Worcester to Robertson

2009-10-01T22:16:00.023+02:00

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From Worcester to Robertson

Map - red marks shows the visited area

This was our very first day on the trip. We overnight on a very pleasant guest farm near Patryskloof. The night was a bit chili - may due to the winter time? In the morning we were surprised by fresh snow on the top of surrounding mountains.

Patryskloof farm, E. Worcester

Patryskloof farm

First spot we visited was directly on the farm - we have explored slopes of the hill above the road and found our first Haworthias. It was H. maxima and H. herbacea.

Haworthia maxima, Patryskloof farm

H. maxima is very wide spread and virtually on every "succulent" spot you will find it. It grows on the flat or on the slopes, mostly in the shade of bushes or sometimes exposed on full sun.

Haworthia herbacea, Patryskloof farm

H. herbacea wasn´t much common here, it was very cryptic under the small bushes, quite well hidden.

Euphorbia sp., Patryskloof farm

Conophytum sp, Crassula sp., Patryskloof farm

Adromischus sp., Patryskloof farm

near Nonna

near Nonna

Next stop was near the farm Nonna. On a very "succulent rich" spot we found H. maxima, H. reticulata, H. arachnoidea and G. retusa.

H. arachnoidea, near Nonna

G. retusa, near Nonna

H. maxima was present on flat area near the road. On the hillside was H. arachnoidea growing - quite well hidden, but when you find first plant, you see easily the others. Nearby on the rocks was growing also our first Gasteria - it was G. retusa (previously G. carinata var. retusa). It small and clump forming species with very rough leaves.

H. maxima, near Nonna

We found also two different forms of H. reticulata. First one was a robust "classic" form, growing in large clusters. Second one, about 300 m further on, was much smaller, with small teeth on the leaves - to me it looks like an intermediate form of H. herbacea and H. reticulata.

H. reticulata, near Nonna

Adromischus sp., near Nonna

Oxalis sp., Euphorbia sp., near Nonna

near Bellevue

near Bellevue

Next stop was to search for H. arachnoidea. We found it after quite difficult climb through thorny bushes and slippery hill. There was also G. retusa and H. reticulata present. This locality was different from previous ones because of steep hillside.

H. arachnoidea, near Bellevue

H. reticulata, near Bellevue

G. retusa, near Bellevue

Aloe sp., near Bellevue

bulb sp., near Bellevue

near Brandvlei Dam, S. Worcester

near Brandvlei Dam

One of my targets of the trip was to see H. maculata in the wild. We have found near the yacht club at Brandvlei Dam. H. maculata is growing very cryptic, very often only leave tips are visible above the ground.

H. maculata, near Brandvlei Dam

At the foot of the hill we found H. maxima too - this was the largest form I have seen - some of the plants were in size of soccer ball (around 30 cm in diameter). Nice Bulbine mesembryanthemoides was present also there.

H. maxima, near Brandvlei Dam

Bulbine mesembryanthemoides, near Brandvlei Dam

Sanberg

H. pubescens, Sandberg II.

And the best on the end of the day - we have visited the locality of very rare plant - H. pubescens. After a long search I found it on the top of the hill on a small rock. We found about 25 plants. It is a tricky and not easy plant in cultivation.

H. pubescens, Sandberg II.

On the same locality is quite common H. herbacea. After visiting Sandberg we drove to the next guest farm S. Robertson, where we overnight.

H. herbacea, Sandberg

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Great African Succulent Adventure 2009

2009-10-01T19:03:00.012+02:00

I´d love to have this adresse!

Finaly. Again after a few years I was able to get back to South Africa, home of my favourite plants. It was a great adventure and I really enjoyed it! I was in total two months on the way...

First five weeks I´ve travelled with my friends mostly through the Western Cape. Our main target was to explore some areas or revisit "known" localities of Haworthias, Gasterias and Astrolobas. I´ve climbed many hills and mountains and took thousands pictures of plants.

That were first five weeks - after that I decided to have "a rest" from plants and accompanied by group of my friends, we rented two 4x4 vehicles and travelled for another four weeks to Botswana and Zambia. This time it was "a normal" tourist trip - just a very few succulents, but many more elephants and other game was there!!!

Addo elephant National Park

And now, after two months of great holidays, I´m going to share here with you my "best of" selection of the almost 9000 photos taken in South Africa.

Just a short note:

In many cases I´m not sure about the name of the plant (non-Haworthia) - please help me to label them correctly and let me (all web visitors) know via comments under each page!

Autumn Cactus and Succulent sales show

2009-09-07T08:25:00.002+02:00

Regular Cactus and Succulent show is taking place in Prague Botanic garden (Na Slupi 16, Prague 2) from 10 to 20 September.

Essays on Haworthia - Volume 5

2009-09-05T19:54:00.003+02:00

Just short note to all - new book from Bruce Bayer will be available soon. If you want to order it, please contact Harry Mays (details are below the article).

Here is a message from Harry Mays:

We are now in the process of printing Bruce Bayer's Essays on Haworthia
Volume 5. Details are:

199 A4 pages, gloss art paper, card cover.
ISBN 978-0-9552726-4-6
Recommended price £49.50 + £4 uninsured surface mail postage.
Alsterworthia International members are entitled to a discount (one copy
each) provided the book is ordered direct from Alsterworthia International,
NOT FROM BOOKDEALERS.

Contents.
Part 1.
Chapter 1. Winding down on Haworthia. 1-2
Chapter 2. Haworthia Reality Check 3-4
Chapter 3. Haworthia deglamorized. A recapitulation. 5-18
Chapter 4. Haworthia retusa 19-38
Chapter 5. Haworthia mirabilis 39-70
Chapter 6. Haworthia floribunda. 71-83
Chapter 7. Haworthia minima 84-90
Plant and other colour photographs index 90-91
Part 2.
Chapter 8. An extension of H. rossouwii. 92-95
Chapter 9. More on H. floribunda and H. mirabilis. 96-101
Chapter 10. Haworthia 'enigma' and H.. mutica var. nigra. 102-128
Chapter 11. What is Haworthia schoemanii? 129-132
Chapter 12. More on H. venosa 'granulata' 133-138
Chapter 13. A February 2009 miscellany. 139-166
Chapter 14. Haworthia jakubii - another new species? 167-169
Chapter 15. A view of Haworthia marumiana 'dimorpha' 170-181
Chapter 16. New populations of Haworthia chloracantha, H. parksiana
and H. kingiana. 182-191
Haworthia species list - Bruce Bayer Feb 22nd 2009 192-193
Acknowledgements 194
Plant and other colour photographs index 195-196
Haworthia Study 196
Haworthia Books by Bruce Bayer, Ingo Breuer & Dr. M. Hayashi 197
Alsterworthia International 198-199

PLEASE NOTE.

We print all articles in their entirety with ALL PHOTOS,
which are an essential part of Bayer's writings, not only for his species
concept, but also because they constitute a photographic herbarium of
habitat plants essential
for all scientists and hobbyists seriously interested in the subject.

Alsterworthia International is happy to share information for the common
good, which is why our policy is to promote and facilitate the publication
of information without favour or gain. Therefore, copyright for that which
Alsterworthia International publishes is NOT reserved to Alsterworthia
International. It is the property of the author. Bayer gladly allows other
publishers to make use of his articles in whole or in part.
Acknowledgements would of course be appreciated.

Harry Mays
Editor, Alsterworthia International.
Coordinator, Cultivar Project
World Agent, Haworthia Study
Woodsleigh, Moss Lane
St Michaels on Wyre
Preston, PR3 0TY
UK
email. hmays@freenetname.co.uk

Classification and taxonomy

2009-04-03T12:55:00.003+02:00

Haworthia nortieri, Arizona
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Classification and taxonomy

M B Bayer, PO B0x 960, 7579 Kuilsriver, RSA.

Taxonomy is simply classification of living or once-living organisms into supposed natural units that are basic to the organization of life forms and which are called species. Classification itself is a process of organizing objects or ideas of any kind into functional groups to serve some general or specific purpose. Therefore the classification of plants in a group like Haworthia is subject to a number of stresses.

Primarily the idea should be that the classification serves a botanical and hence scientific purpose that indicates the past, present and even future of every plant of Haworthia in relation to all the others of the same general kind, as well as to other plants and other living organisms. An obstacle to this ideal is that the concept of the species is not defined any better than the broad zoological acceptance of a species being a group or groups of interbreeding or potentially interbreeding individuals. This definition simply does not hold for plants and there are many reasons why not. Furthermore it is not certain that the process of Darwinian selection and slow change by random mutation is how change is actually driven. Thus from the scientific point of view it is almost impossible to assess a classification without a very broad and inclusive overview of the plant world and the consideration that the taxonomist demonstrates for the variables and possibilities that exist. To do this requires a level of knowledge, expertise and experience, not only of biology in general, but also of the group of plants viz. Haworthia under consideration.

Secondarily a classification serves the need of a user group outside of science and this can be the casual observer, the naturalist, the enthusiast and the collector/grower. The casual observer generally will make no demands on a classification provided the classification is approximately true and appears to be accepted in the formal ranks. The naturalist is a bit more difficult to please because the formal ranks are known to be questionable. The enthusiast and grower are still more difficult to satisfy because unlike the naturalist, there is a greater need for accuracy and precision of identification and application of any name.

How then can one hope to bring the two ideals of classification together to serve one common purpose? The truth, so vividly demonstrated in the history of the literature of Haworthia, is that it cannot be done unless there is a dramatic turnabout from the two user groups. The scientific community needs firstly to get its act together and recognize the flaws and weaknesses that are incipient in the mainstream scientific literature. Then the user group needs to exercise better discrimination and recognize that any opinion is only as good as the information and truths on which it rests.

Classification and taxonomy

2009-04-03T12:45:00.003+02:00

Haworthia nortieri, Arizona
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Classification and taxonomy

M B Bayer, PO B0x 960, 7579 Kuilsriver, RSA.

Taxonomy is simply classification of living or once-living organisms into supposed natural units that are basic to the organization of life forms and which are called species. Classification itself is a process of organizing objects or ideas of any kind into functional groups to serve some general or specific purpose. Therefore the classification of plants in a group like Haworthia is subject to a number of stresses.

Primarily the idea should be that the classification serves a botanical and hence scientific purpose that indicates the past, present and even future of every plant of Haworthia in relation to all the others of the same general kind, as well as to other plants and other living organisms. An obstacle to this ideal is that the concept of the species is not defined any better than the broad zoological acceptance of a species being a group or groups of interbreeding or potentially interbreeding individuals. This definition simply does not hold for plants and there are many reasons why not. Furthermore it is not certain that the process of Darwinian selection and slow change by random mutation is how change is actually driven. Thus from the scientific point of view it is almost impossible to assess a classification without a very broad and inclusive overview of the plant world and the consideration that the taxonomist demonstrates for the variables and possibilities that exist. To do this requires a level of knowledge, expertise and experience, not only of biology in general, but also of the group of plants viz. Haworthia under consideration.

Secondarily a classification serves the need of a user group outside of science and this can be the casual observer, the naturalist, the enthusiast and the collector/grower. The casual observer generally will make no demands on a classification provided the classification is approximately true and appears to be accepted in the formal ranks. The naturalist is a bit more difficult to please because the formal ranks are known to be questionable. The enthusiast and grower are still more difficult to satisfy because unlike the naturalist, there is a greater need for accuracy and precision of identification and application of any name.

How then can one hope to bring the two ideals of classification together to serve one common purpose? The truth, so vividly demonstrated in the history of the literature of Haworthia, is that it cannot be done unless there is a dramatic turnabout from the two user groups. The scientific community needs firstly to get its act together and recognize the flaws and weaknesses that are incipient in the mainstream scientific literature. Then the user group needs to exercise better discrimination and recognize that any opinion is only as good as the information and truths on which it rests.

Articles

2009-04-03T11:25:00.008+02:00

Haworthia atrofusca, Uitvlug
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Articles about Haworthia, Gasteria and other succulents

In this section you will find articles published by me or other authors on topics connected to Haworthia, Gasteria and other south African succulents.

If you have anything, you think can be interested for others, please don´t hesitate to send it to me (via email "kuba.jilemicky@gmail.com"), I will gladly publish it on this page!

Published articles:

3.4.2009 - "Classification and taxonomy", M.B.Bayer
17.3. 2009 - "Haworthia jakubii I.Breur - Another new species?", M.B.Bayer

Haworthia jakubii - Another new species?

2009-04-03T10:23:00.007+02:00

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Fig. 2a. MBB7820 H. mirabilis 'jakubii'. Goukou Bridge, Klipfontein.

Haworthia jakubii I.Breuer – another new species?

M B Bayer, PO B0x 960, 7579 Kuilsriver, RSA.

Alsterworthia produced a special edition (no.7) in 2004 to publish new species and combinations subsequent to the publication of Haworthia Revisited. I was given a copy because of my own contributions in respect of primarily new combinations. I had the previous year done some exploration along the Duiwenhoks River south of Heidelberg and found several Haworthia populations notably MBB7727 Witheuwel and MBB7229 Somona. I discussed these in Chapter 6 of my Update Vol 2. dealing with the complexity of the element H. retusa (mutica) var nigra and the problematic nature of H. mirabilis as it occurs around and south of Heidelberg.

So when I saw the picture of H. jakubii I merely glanced at the description to see the words Duiwenhoks River to think this was another of those weird arm chair products to befuddle the enthusiast and add another name from the endless production belt. There was nothing about the illustration that suggested anything new to me so it is really fascinating to now only read what the author had to say …”When the author first saw them, he thought they were something new because of their features”. This is a very subjective statement and I have no doubt that the author could be misled into thinking that other plants from the same population could also be “something new”. Why “something new” should be allied to a Latin binomial is intrinsic to “namenklutter” and the disrepute into which taxonomy has fallen.

I must dwell on that statement a little because it helps to demonstrate, falling very far short of explaining, why plant classification becomes such a hopeless mess. In 1986 I wrote an article published in Excelsa12:91 entitled “Confusion reigns again” where I stated that it was seemingly impossible to write about Haworthia without casting doubts on one’s own, or someone else’s, integrity or sanity. This was because of the apparent lack of any sense of discrimination and recognition of what might be right or wrong about any written piece. The more painful aspect of course is that it meant that I could write nothing myself that would be believable. I have to state that since 1986, the situation has not improved one iota and I regret that I am not tactless, aggressive or unkind enough to list a set of prominent people who have done nothing more than fuel the fire of enthusiastic writers. So we have “because of their features”. What features? I presume these same unlisted features are what made me sigh and think “Oh dear! – another name for H. mirabilis”.

I did not give the element anymore thought until I happened to see Jakub Jilemicky’s website and e-mailed him to query the principles he was adopting for recognition of “species”. From him I learned that the origin of “jakubii” was in fact the Goukou (ex Kafferkuils) River north of Stilbaai and Jakub kindly also sent me map details. Because there are virtually no records of H. mirabilis further south east of Riversdale than in the Frehse reserve close to town, I suspected that perhaps we had to do with a H. retusa ‘turgida’ variant or possibly a hybrid between that and H. variegata. While not generally prone to concede oddities to hybridization, I have become much more circumspect in this respect after learning a great deal more about hybridization between species despite big discrepancies in flowering time. Jakub’s map was a bit problematic because the designated spot was quite far from the Goukou River and in the middle of cultivated land. Furthermore the farm name Melklhoutkraal is cited and the boundary lay east of the designated spot.

landscape N. Windsor

However, my wife and I came to the designated place where a road serves two farms south of the road. The first farm deserves special mention in respect of the negative aspects of agriculture where an over zealous new owner has decimated the landscape with no consideration for conservation whatsoever. The invasive Acacia cyclops (Rooikrans) has been bulldozed away and what may have been cultivated before certainly is now, and this also extends into that fragile zone between the productive shales and the non-productive calcrete. The owner initially offered, being busy at the time, to show us a hill that was being “conserved” and we made an appointment to do so. However, when we later arrived back we were informed that here had been a change of mind and we would not be allowed there. The reason will become apparent.

Fig. 1a MBB7818 H. mirabilis. Windsor

We went on to the second farm where the owners were delightful and allowed us to explore at will. The farm borders the river but we stayed away from that as we were fairly sure that H. retusa ‘turgida’ would be all there was to see on the steep banks. So we explored the calcrete that is so reminiscent of H. paradoxa and Vermaaklikheid. We found a small and very cryptic population of H. variegata that rather strengthened our suspicion that perhaps ‘jakubii’ was of hybrid origin.

Fig. 1b MBB7818 H. mirabilis. Windsor

Then we went further north to continue some exploration we had started there and we found a strong population of H. mirabilis about 15km SE Riversdale (MBB7818 Windsor – see figs 1). We connected this population to plants at KomseRante east of Riversdale and also Kruisriver further east and north and suggested the possibility that ‘jakubii’ was then a Duiwenhoks River image of H. mirabilis.

Fig. 1c MBB7818 H. mirabilis. Windsor

Back home and back onto the internet, and Jakub sent a better description of the locality much nearer to the river and on the farm Klipfontein rather than Melkhoutkraal. An error and something I might have worked out had I dug out the publication and recognized that the stated geographical facts were as unreliable as the taxonomic claims. Kobus Venter was thankfully able and anxious to get into the field in connection with other finds, and he kindly offered to drive all the way to Stilbaai to follow newest information. Gerhard Marx was also with us as a most welcome guest, and we then found the evasive ‘jakubii’ growing in a very narrow band right alongside the road and extremely vulnerable to any road works (see Figs 2 MBB7820).

Our over zealous farmer had not only erected a new fence and deposited all the Acacia branches on the road reserve, but had also concentrated stock on the river bank. The result was what is to be expected when there is no sympathy for the environment or for the stock. Animals under pressure will eat anything and everything and the concept of selective grazing and suitable stocking rate can fall away. One may as well cultivate the soil for the devastation too many animals in too small an area for too long, causes. It is fortunate then that we have the road reserve.

Fig. 2a. MBB7820 H. mirabilis 'jakubii'. Goukou Bridge, Klipfontein.

We found about 40 plants that appeared from the dry capsules and stalks to have flowered about 6 weeks previously in early February in close synchrony with H. variegata nearby and also with the Windsor population of H. mirabilis. We took Kobus and Gerhard to see the Windsor plants and they confirmed the similarity of individuals there to ‘jakubii’. Among Figures 4 are plants that demonstrate the similarities and also the wide range of variation so evident in most populations of H. mirabilis.

Fig. 2b. MBB7820 H. mirabilis 'jakubii'. Goukou Bridge, Klipfontein.

Thus: H.mirabilis ‘jakubii’- a significant population and well worthy of a name outside of formal botany, which brings me back to my near opening remarks.

The formal nomenclatural system works very well as no doubt does the horticultural code. However, there are serious limitations that severely affect Haworthia. The first is that few people actually have much experience with plants in the field and the true nature of natural variation. There are too few competent taxonomists and whole field of taxonomy is seriously flawed by any form of peer review outside of the nomenclatural rules and procedures. Another serious flaw is simply the absence of any general and common understanding of what a Latin binomial is actually supposed to be appended to.

The same is true of lesser taxonomic ranks. Gordon Rowley many years asked (of me)…”I would love to know what is to become of the luckless hybrids and cultivars if they are to be deprived of the rank of genus and species.” I am now not sure if he thought through that question very well but I understand what he means and in recent literature he has highlighted the value of names for the sphere of horticulture in which "collectors" operate. Short of microchipping, many cultivated plants are going to be deprived of names simply through loss of physical labels.

I am not sure, and underlined by that very curious statement about the features that made ‘jakubii’ into something new, that any formal system of cultivar recognition is going to work in Haworthia. The problem is that we are not dealing with flower characteristics and colours of virtually a single species as happens in most horticultural groups. Nor are we dealing with any controlled breeding program. We are dealing with vegetative characters of perhaps 30 species where there is much evidence of gross misidentifications by experienced professionals (botanists) at species level. Also there are any numbers of potential new cultivars by virtue of the simple facts of natural variation. How are we going to ever arrive at descriptive matter and even illustrations that will allow correct identification when growing conditions and season influence the vegetative characters of the plants concerned and we cannot even be sure to what species they belong.

Fig. 2c. MBB7820 H. mirabilis 'jakubii'. Goukou Bridge, Klipfontein.

The author of ‘jakubii’ does end by saying that the taxon is intermediate between H. mirabilis ‘paradoxa’ and H. mirabilis ‘magnifica’, listing shape, surface, coloration and solitary growth as reasons. This may seem reasonable on the surface of things. But it is totally unreasonable if one considers that one could take representatives from the same and different populations of these, and use the same argument to justify many more names within those two elements as variable components of a much greater cohort of variants.

The description itself simply cannot be taken literally. A plant is illustrated with leaves having from 3 – 9 face lines however one chooses to count them, while the description states 5 - 7. The colour is given as grass-green (in poor light), but we saw most plants in semi-shaded and poor light microhabitats and none were “grass-green”. The leaf surfaces are also described as “smooth” and this was not evident in the plants we saw. The converse is true and also in respect of either ‘paradoxa’ or ’magnifica’. In fact the statement underscores the (poetic) license that is taken with descriptions that end up unworkable. In H. mirabilis, the leaves may indeed be smooth (eg.’badia’) but in any population there are plants that have incipiently rough surfaces extending to prominent tubercles and even prominent hair-like spines. So, indeed, if latin names are said to have a reality they do not in fact possess, this certainly is the case here.

Acknowledgement:
Dr an Mrs. Lindley Kok of Klipfontein, Ms Sonya Walmsley of Melkhoutkraal (?), Mr Johannes van Eeden of Windsor. Kobus Venter and Gerhard Marx, for participation and company. I particularly appreciate the interest and assistance of Jakub Jilemicky in resolving an issue his name is associated with.

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Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha

2009-03-31T20:50:00.004+02:00

Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha, TL, near Constable Station, New photo

Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha (M.B.Bayer) I.Breuer

dimorpha: two shapes.

H. archeri var. dimorpha is a variety with less leaves, it is generally larger than H. archeri. It is characteristic by white tubercles and prominent translucent spots on the leaves. The flower has the straight upper petal lobes.

Distribution map

H. archeri var. dimorpha is known only from the type locality near Constable Station W. Laingsburg. It grows well hidden in rock crevices in a very impassable terrain high on the mountains. It is not easy species and still not so common in cultivation. Be careful with correct watering and keep it off from direct sunlight. Propagation must be done by seeds.

Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha, TL, near Constable Station, New photo

Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha, TL, near Constable Station, New photos

Haworthia archeri var. dimorpa, TL, near Constable Station, New photo

Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha, TL, near Constable Station, New photos

Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha, TL, near Constable Station, New photos

growing situation of Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha, TL, near Constable Station, New photo

locality of Haworthia archeri var. dimorpha, TL, near Constable Station
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Synonym:
H. marumiana var. dimorpha

Known locality:

Constable Station, W. Laingsburg (3320AD)
E. Touwsrivier (3320AD)

Haworthia archeri

2009-03-31T19:34:00.007+02:00

Haworthia archeri, Josefskraal
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Haworthia archeri W.F.Barker ex M.B.Bayer

archeri: for Mr J. Archer

H. archeri is a very small small, compact brownish-green species, with rosette up to 60 mm in diameter. Vegetativly are the plants almost identical to H. marumiana, but it remains mostly solitary and the floral characteristic is also different. These two species comes very close together at Princ Albert area. The leaves of archeri are less flaccid, the patterning appears to be finer and leaves also tend to curve outwards and are little more scabrid.

Distribution map

H. archeri grows in the greater Sutherland, Merweville and Frazerburg areas. It occurs on Dwyka sandstones among karroid vegetation but on the cooler southern slopes. The area west of Whitehill Laingsburg is north of the Witteberg mountain range and technically lies on the border of winter and summer rainfall areas. However, it is most probable that H. archeri prefers a dry summer and what little moisture it can get, in the winter. There is a high degree of variation across its distribution range. Collection from the Floriskraal Dam is glabrous and very like small glabrous form of H. aristata (H. arachnoidea var. nigricans sensu MBB), another population from Gamkapoort area has broader leaves and less spination.

detail of flower - Haworthia archeri
Photo by Bruce Bayer

H. archeri is not well known in cultivation. Propagation can be done by seeds or in case of proliferous clones by offsets.

Haworthia archeri, Josefskraal
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Haworthia archeri, Josefskraal
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Haworthia archeri, Josefskraal
Photo by Bruce Bayer

Synonymum:
H. marumiana var. archeri

Known localities:

Tafelberg (3221AA)
Riethuisies (3221AD)
Oukloof Pass (3221BB)
Langberg (3221CA)
Klipfontein (3221CC)
Baviaan, Laingsburg (3320BA)
Matjiesfontein hills (3320BA)
Ghaapkop (3320BA)
Bosluiskloof (3321BC)
W. Laingsburg
SE. Laingsburg
SW. Frasersburg (3221DD)
Gamkapoort (3321BC)
S. Laingsburg (3320BB)
Josefskraal