All you wanted to know about Haworthias, Gasterias and Astrolobas: Haworthia mirabilis 'bobii'

Haworthia bobii, Ballyfar, South.

Haworthia mirabilis 'bobii' M.Hayashi

H. bobii is species which belongs to the mirabilis group. It is characteristic by its leave shape and color. The main feature are attractive short hairs on top of the leaves, 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. It remains solitairy.

At first Bayer used name H. mirabilis 'pilosa', but he refused to descibe it as new species. M. Hayashi and Ingo Breuer in their new taxonomy use for this plant name H. bobii. The glabrous form was recently described as a new species H. joleneae.

Distribution map

H. bobii is known from W of Infanta from one farm, where it occurs on few spots. It grows here on grassy low hill overlooking Breede River. Not far away from TL is interesting form of mirabilis aff. growing, where some clones have few hairs on the leaves, may be it could be mixed popualtion with hybrids.
H. bobii is one of the most attractive species amongst mirabilis group. In cultivation it grows slower, but can reach bigger size than in nature - 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.