Haworthia heidelbergensis

H. heidelbergensis, E. Heidelberg

Haworthia heidelbergensis G.G.Smith

heidelbergensis: from Heidelberg, Cape.

H. heidelbergensis is a small, mostly proliferous species. Leaves are reddish tinted greenish brown, generally with small marginal and keel spines, tends to spread and recurve rather than being distinctly retused. They can be smoothish and cloudily translucent or with translucence between veins on the upper surfaces. It occurs usually on slightly southern slopes in thick moss and lichen.

Distribution map

Var. heidelbergensis grows mainly around Heidelberg and to the East, halfway to the Riversdale. The other heidelbergensis variets occurs from Drew down to the South up to Potberg and Bredasdorp. Around Heidelberg itself are growing quite robust forms, which show direct introgression with H. turgida, which shows its relationship with  H. retusa through this species. Between Riversdale and Heidelberg there are some interetsing forms, which shows continuity to H. magnifica. At Potberg area at Lower Breede River is growing strange form of maraisii-heidelbergensis var. scabra-floribunda. It was described by Hayashi as henda. (See some photos of it at maraisii article). Bayer described three other variets - minor, toonensis and scabra. In his latest combination, he include this species together to the "super species" mirabilis. I discuss all these elements under its original name, so see all the articles on the web.

H. heidelbergensis is not that easy in cultivation and some clones can grow very slowly and remains solitairy. It needs more shady condition. Propagation can be done by offsetts and seed.

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

Known localities:

• W. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• E. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• Tierkloof, Heidelberg (3420BB)
• Koppie opposite sport grounds (3420BB)
• Melkboom, between Heidelberg and Riversdale (3421AA)
• NE. Melkboom (3421AA)
• Kweekraal (3421AA)
• Die Plotte (3420BB)
• N. Heidelberg (3420BB)
• Uitkyk (3421AA)

 

H. heidelbergensis, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. heidelbergensis, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis, Tierkloof, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis, Tierkloof, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis, Tierkloof, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis, Tierkloof, NEW PHOTO

Locality of H. heidelbergensis, Tierkloof, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, NE of Melkboom, NEW PHOTO

H. heidelbergensis, E. Heidelberg

H. heidelbergensis, E. Heidelberg

H. heidelbergensis, E. Heidelberg

H. heidelbergensis, E. Heidelberg

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, Kweekraal

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, Kweekraal

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, Kweekraal

H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, Kweekraal

Locality of H. heidelbergensis/magnifica, Kweekraal

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

Locality of H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

H. heidelbergensis, Die Plotte

Locality of H. heidelbergensis, NW. Kathoek