Haworthia arachnoidea var. scabrispina

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Oskopvlakte

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 12 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 and to the East. Recently was discovered locality more than 80km to the East from Koup Station, which enlarge its distribution range significantly. 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. 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 it grows together with H. albispina.

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Baviaan

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

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. 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 is very popular and demanded in cultivation. It is not the easiest plant, it needs more shadier place and is quite slow. Propagation must be done by seeds.

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)
• N. Prince Albert (3222CC)

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, far N. Prince Albert, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, far N. Prince Albert, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, far N. Prince Albert, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, far N. Prince Albert, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, far N. Prince Albert, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, far N. Prince Albert, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Middelplaas

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Middelplaas

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Oskopvlakte

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Oskopvlakte

Locality of H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Oskopvlakte

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Koup Station

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Koup Station, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Koup Station, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Koup Station, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Koup Station, NEW PHOTO

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Floriskraal Dam

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Floriskraal Dam

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Floriskraal Dam

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Floriskraal Dam

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, near Floriskraal Dam

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

Locality of H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Baviaan

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Baviaan

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil

Locality of H. arachnoidea var. scabrispina, Viskuil