All you wanted to know about Haworthias, Gasterias and Astrolobas: Haworthia arachnoidea 'tretyrensis'

H. arachnoidea 'tretyrensis', Noorspoort farm

Haworthia arachnoidea 'tretyrensis' I.Breuer

tretyrensis: after it´s type locality, Tretyre farm.

H. arachnoidea 'tretyrensis' is attractive species from arachnoidea group.Size of the rosette is 3-5 cm in diameter. In nature it grows solitairy, only when matured in cultivation it starts to offsetts slowly. Characteristic sign is the colour of leaves - they are dark green with a purplish tinge, becoming intensive purple under direct sunshine and intensive white colour of bristles, which is quite striking.

Distribution map

H. arachnoidea 'tretyrensis' grows around Steytlerville. It was originally distributed by Sheilam nursery as xiphiophylla from Tretyre. It grows far to the West (NW) from xiphiophylla, which grows in Uitenhage area and to much to East from arachnoidea, which Eastern distribution borders are half way to Willowmore from De Rust. In my greenhouse it is the first flowering plant of arachnoidea group.

H. arachnoidea 'tretyrensis', Dorschpoort, NEW PHOTO

There is very interesting population further N of Steytlerville near Welkom, where plants are more greenish with more prominent translucent leaves edges. I.Breuer gave it nameH. stewarta. It is slightly different plant, but for now I keep it here under tretyrensis. Possible is connection to the jansenvillensis, which grows from N-end of Kampherspoort, through Jansenville up to nearly Graaff-Reinet. Or to floccosa, which grows near Fullarton, between Steytlerville and Willowmore in the West. And of course, further to the East is xiphiophylla, whch is more yellowish-green and without white bristles.

It is not difficult species and it just needs more shady condition like other arachnoidea. Propagation by seed or offsetts.

Known localities: