Author Archives: Bruce Bayer

Haworthia Revisited – 19. Haworthia maraisii

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19. Haworthia maraisii V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 38:194(1935).  idem. 43:104(1938).  Bayer :141(1976).  H. magnifica var. maraisii (V.Poelln.) Bayer, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 32:18(1977).  Bayer :44,106(1982).  Type: Cape, Swellendam, Marais in Swellendam 6410.  Lectotype (Bayer, 1976): Icon (B):  H. schuldtiana V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 41:211(1937).  idem. 43:102(1938).  idem. 49:23(1940).  Type: Cape, Robertson, SW. McGregor G.J. Payne in Triebn. 903.  Lectotype (Bayer, 1976): icon (B):  H. schuldtiana var. robertsonensis idem. 49:25(1940).  V.Poelln., Des.Pl.Life 9:101(1937).  Type: Cape, Robertson, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 991.  Not preserved:  H. schuldtiana var. minor Triebn. et V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 49:25(1940).  Type: Cape, McGregor, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1096.  Not preserved:  H. schuldtiana var. subtuberculata V.Poelln. ibid. 49:26(1940).  Type: Cape, N. McGregor, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1089.  Not preserved:  H. whitesloaneana V.Poelln., Desert.Pl.Life 9:102(1937). idem Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 43:107(1938).  H. schuldtiana var. whitesloaneana V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 49:26(1940).  Type: Cape, McGregor, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1021.  Not preserved. Lectotype (Bayer, 1976): icon (B):  H. schuldtiana var. sublaevis idem. 49:26(1940).  Type: Cape, loc. unknown, Beukman in Long 690.  Not preserved:  H. schuldtiana var. simplicior idem. 49:26(1940).  Type: Cape, Malgas, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1112.  Not preserved.  H. schuldtiana var. unilineata idem. 49:26(1940).  Type: Cape, N. McGregor, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1089.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): McGregor (-DD), Payne in PRE34897:  H. sublimpidula V.Poelln., Cactus J 5:33(1936). idem. Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. ibid. 41:212(1937).  idem. 43:105(1938).  idem. Beitr.Zukk.Pfl. 1:45(1939).  Type: Cape, Swellendam, Hurling in Triebn. 847. Not preserved. Lectotype (Bayer, 1976): icon.B:  H. triebneriana var. diversicolor Triebn. et V.Poelln. ibid. 47:9(1939).  Type: Cape, Olifantsdoorn, McGregor, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1092. Not preserved.  Neotype: CAPE-3319 (Worcester): Olifantsdoorn Kloof (-DD), Payne in PRE34881:  H. angustifolia var. subfalcata V.Poelln.  Sukkulentenkunde 4(1951), nom. inval.

maraisii: for W.R.B. Marais.

Rosette stemless, slowly proliferous, 4-7cm φ.  Leaves few to many, very dark green, opaque, usually retused, scabrid with small raised tubercles, tubercles occasionally spined, margins and keel with small spines.  Inflorescence slender, to 30cm.  Flowers outer upper lobes pinched, frequently yellow throated.

This species was previously treated under H. magnifica and it is now taken out as the smaller darker range of populations from Heidelberg westwards.  It is a very common element which is seldom abundant at any one locality.  It co-occurs with H. heidelbergensis, H. herbacea, H. reticulata, H. turgida, and H. mutica of the same sub-genus.  It is found close to H. mirabilis but it does not co-occur with this species and there are two populations known which appear to be intermediate.

Breuer and Metzing note that a lectotype for H. maraisii was designated by Bayer (1982), when in fact a Berlin-Dahlem illustration was regarded as a type by virtue of the non-preservation of anything else.  It is highly unlikely that there was any other preserved material.  They nominate presumably the same illustration as a lectotype.  Then they state that this illustrations is not original material in the sense of the code, but also that a lectotype must be chosen from the original material.

a. var. maraisii.
The variety is typified by a rather robust form at Stormsvlei whereas it is generally a little smaller elsewhere.  Note can be made of forms near Robertson which are rather similar to H. pubescens, forms near Bonnievale in which the leaves are rather guttate (spotted), and to near Eilandia which have short erect leaves.  The Bonnievale plants are particularly difficult because of a number of populations which are uncharacteristic and vary from the recognisable H. maraisii var. meiringii to a small form which co-occurs with the typical variety.  Even the possibility of interaction with H. heidelbergensis cannot be excluded.

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): Trappieskraalkloof (-DC), Bayer 1210 (NBG); Langkloof (-DC), Bayer 1215 (NBG), Moffett (NBG); Dublin (-DC), Stayner in KG400/61 (NBG); S. Goudmyn Bridge (-DD), Bayer in KG163/70 (NBG); Goudmyn (-DD), Bayer 1216 (NBG); 18km Robertson to Bonnievale (-DD), Bayer in KG46/70 Langvlei (-DD), Scott 2211 (PRE); 5km E. McGregor (-DD), Payne & Scott 22 (PRE); 1.5km S. Robertson (-DD), Scott 2210 (PRE); Muiskraalkop (-DD), Hurling & Neil (BOL), Bayer 1707 (NBG); McGregor (-DD), Payne in PRE34883, Smith 3977, 5606, 5765, 5774 (NBG), Triebn. 1089 in Smith 5767 (NBG); W. McGregor (-DD), Bayer 4437 (NBG); McGregor (-DD), Payne in PRE34897; Vrolijkheid (-DD), UPE 3207 (PRE); SE. McGregor (-DD), Smith 3975 (NBG); S. McGregor (-DD), Bayer 1222 (NBG); Olifantsdoorn Kloof (-DD), Payne in PRE34881, Smith 5774 (NBG); Houtbaai Kloof (-DD), Payne in PRE 34887, Smith 5766 (NBG); Bayer & Stayner 2271 (NBG); W. Robertson (-DD), Bayer 1211, 1703, in KG628/69 (NBG); Bonnievale to Robertson (-DD), Smith 3980 (NBG); Skurweberg (-DD),Bayer 1221 (NBG); SW. Robertson (-DD), Smith 3987 (NBG), Bayer in KG688/69 (NBG); 9km W. Robertson (-DD), Bayer in KG630/69, in KG345/71 (NBG); Klaasvoogds (-DD), Smith 398, 2836 (NBG), Bayer 1220 (NBG).  3320 (Montagu): Dobbelaarskloof (-CB), Bruyns (NBG); N. Ashton (-CC), Bayer 1708 (NBG); Goedverwacht (-CC), Bayer 2177 (NBG); N. Drew (-CC), Bayer 1219 (NBG); Drew (–CC), De Kok 295 (NBG); Cogmanskloof (-CC), Littlewood in KG520/60 (NBG); 6km N. Drew (-CC), Smith 5615 (NBG); Bonnievale (-CC), Marloth 14186 (PRE); Barrydale (-DC), Smith 7353 (NBG), Bolus (BOL), Hurling & Neil (BOL).  3419 (Caledon): N. Napier (-BD), Venter 3 (NBG).  3420 (Bredasdorp): Stormsvlei (-AA), Smith 2700, 2367, 5158, 5641 (NBG); 32km Swellendam to Caledon (-AA), Smith 3250, 3251 (NBG); 7km N. Stormsvlei (-AA), Bayer 1213 (NBG); Rondeheuwel (-AA), Bayer in KG326/71 (NBG); 19km N. Bredasdorp (-AC), Smith 5476 (NBG), Bayer in KG35/70 (NBG); Juliusfontein (-AD), Bayer 1221 (NBG); SW. Heidelberg (-BB), Bayer in KG104/74 (NBG); Skeiding (-BB), Smith 7219 (NBG); Ziekenhuis (-BC), Bruyns in KG49/76 (NBG); Potberg (-BC), Burgers 2506 (NBG); Infanta (-BD), Malherbe in NBG673/41 (NBG), Smith 5477 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Swellendam, Marais in STE6410 (NBG), Smith 5055 (NBG); Stormsvlei, Payne (NBG); Robertson, Payne (NBG), Malherbe in NBG172/41; Swellendam, Malherbe in NBG299/40; Bredasdorp, Barker in NBG698/33, Venter 18 (BOL); Stormsvlei to Bonnievale, Lewis in NBG2456/32 (BOL); Robertson, Esterhuysen (BOL), Hurling & Neil (BOL), Herre in STE6379 (BOL); Bonnievale, van der Merwe 94 (BOL); Bredasdorp, Venter 20 (BOL), Hurling & Neil (BOL).

  • Haworthia maraisii var. maraisii JDV95/1 Rooiberg. The end-area is shorter and more deltoid than in H. magnifica.
  • Haworthia maraisii var. maraisii JDV95/15 west of Robertson. There is a wide array of differing populations around Robertson.
  • Haworthia maraisii var. maraisii JDV85/15 Napier. At this locality the plants are small and the leaves rounder at the tip.
  • Haworthia maraisii var maraisii JDV86/50 Rooiberg. The plants are invariably well hidden.
  • Haworthia maraisii var. maraisii JDV87/1 17 Stormsvlei. The species was originally described from where the plants are quite large for the species.
  • Haworthia maraisii var. maraisii JDV87/118 Rondeheuwel. A population where the species seems to hybridize with H. mirabilis.
  • Haworthia maraisii var. maraisii JDV86/7 Rooivlei. Like the Napier plants, very dark and with more abrupt leaf-tips
  • Haworthia maraisii var. maraisii JDV94/18 southeast of Worcester. The first collection from here was by Roy Littlewood. The plants were very dark with erect pointed leaves, but that population appears to have vanished.

b. var. meiringii Bayer
:134(1976).  H. magnifica var. meiringii Bayer, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 32:18(1977).  Bayer :45(1982).  Type: CAPE‑3320 (Montagu): E. of Bonnievale (‑DC), Bayer in KG 224/70 (NBG).

meiringii: for P.L. Meiring.

1982 – The var. meiringii appears vegetatively very like a smaller, darker green version of H. herbacea, until it flowers.  Also to the west it intergrades into the more characteristic retuse‑leaved var. maraisii.

1999 – This variety has the growth form of H. herbacea but is a smaller darker green species with the same flowers and flowering time as H. maraisii.  It occurs east of Bonnievale, and westwards transposes to a more rigid-leaved form with erect thin scabrid leaves which practically co-occurs with the typical form of that species.  Immediately west of Bonnievale it appears to intermingle with H. heidelbergensis in dense populations.

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): W. Bonnievale (-DD), Smith 3822 (NBG).  3320 (Montagu): Bonnievale (-CC), Marloth 11855 (PRE); E. Bonnievale (‑CC), Smith 3948 (NBG), Bayer in KG 224/70 (NBG); W. Bonnievale (-CC), Bayer 1214, 1217 (NBG), Bayer in KG2/71 (NBG), Bayer 1218, in KG7/71, in KG9/71 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Bonnievale, Malherbe in Smith 3428 (NBG), Smith 5060 (NBG), van der Merwe 95 (BOL); ex hort, Hurling & Neil (BOL); Drew, Hurling & Neil (BOL).

  • Haworthia maraisii var meiringii JDV96/15 west of Bonnievale. The density of this population is surprising.
  • Haworthia maraisii var meiringii JDV90/94 east of Bonnievale. The shape and colouration of the plants is very reminiscent of H. herbacea.
  • Haworthia maraisii var meiringii JDV87/121 west of Bonnievale. Becomes very variable proceeding westward, and at this locality the plants are very spotted.

c. var. notabilis (V.Poelln.) Bayer
:141(1976).  H. notabilis V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:134(1938):  H. magnifica var. notabilis  Bayer, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 32:18(1977).  Bayer :45(1982).  Scott :146(1985).  Type: Cape, Wolfkloof, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1103.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (B&M): icon (B):  H. schuldtiana var. erecta Triebn. et V.Poelln. ibid. 49:25(1940).  Type: Cape, Bonnievale, Stellenbosch.  Not preserved:  H. nitidula var. opaca V.Poelln., Desert.Pl.Life 20:4(1948).  Type: Cape, Klaasvoogds.  Not preserved:

notabilis: noteworthy.

1982 – The variety notabilis (then of H. magnifica) also has erect leaves which are darker green and more turgid than in the case of H. herbacea.

1999 – There is difficulty in comparing this variety with H. maraisii.  The decision to place it here was taken on account of the variation at the type locality, the similarity of the flowers and flowering times, and also because of the forms originally seen at Klaasvoogds, which were darker and more compact than the more turgid of the Wolfkloof forms.  At Wolfkloof, a turgid, lighter green form grows on the east of the valley where it is on shales.  On the west side is a granite formation and the forms are very toothed and have longer more slender leaves.  There also appears to be a third form a little to the southwest which has the firmer textured leaves of H. reticulata which co-occurs there.  More than one population is now known at Klaasvoogds and the plants appear to vary substantially.  There is yet another population at Agtervink which is comparable to the Klaasvoogds and eastern Wolfkloof plants.  Finally there is H. maculata var. intermedia at Buitenstekloof which has a different flowering time.  It is these odd indistinctly related populations which appear to be influenced by ecotypic (largely geological) factors.  All the populations discussed here are on rocky sites associated with the great Worcester fault line and the granite and dolomite formations which are exposed there.

The original decision to include this element with var. maraisii was based on quite an extensive study of the flowers and flowering times of a wide range of populations in the Worcester/Robertson Karoo.  Variation within those populations which are more obviously of the var. maraisii, seemed to exceed that between them and var. notabilis.  Flowering time was also originally thought to have been a very strong character but it seems to break down here as it may in H. magnifica. 

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): Wolfkloof, Robertson (‑DD), Smith 3984 (NBG, PRE), Scott 2204 (PRE), Bayer 1208, 1209 (NBG), Fourcade 166 (NBG), Fourcade 192 (NBG), Hurling & Neil in NBG 2115/37 (NBG); Robertson (-DD), Payne in PRE39466; Vinkrivier (-DD), Bayer 121 (NBG); Klaasvoogds (-DD), Stayner & Bayer in KG 638/69 (NBG).

  • Haworthia maraisii var. notabilis JDV87/197 northwest of Robertson. This variety occurs as three different ecotypes in close proximity.
  • Haworthia marasii var. notabilis JDV87/197 Woolfkloof northwest of Robertson. The granite form is darker coloured and more spinescent.

Haworthia Revisited – 20. Haworthia marumiana

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20. Haworthia marumiana Uitew., Cact.Vetp. 6:33(1940), Nat.Cact.Succ.J 9:20(1947). Bayer :133(1976).  Bayer :23(1982).  non Scott :78(1985).  Type (see B&M): Cape, Ladismith and Mossel Bay, Stellenbosch 6610 and 7773 (AMD).

marumiana: in honour of Dr M. van Marum.

Rosette stemless, very proliferous, to 7cm φ.  Leaves erect, incurved, softish, margins and keel with spines, purplish-green in colour, opaque, with reticulate patterning.  Inflorescence simple, to 200mm.  Flowers smallish, white.

1982 – The distribution of this species is most interesting. Uitewaal gave the locality as Ladismith and also a second locality at Mossel Bay, both attributed to H. Herre.  A collection in the Kirstenbosch garden attributed to C. Luckhoff also appears to have been this species, and this was recorded as from Heidelberg, Cape.  Smith did not apply the name to any of his field collections.  The recorded localities are not borne out by any other records or collections and thus the origin remained something of a mystery.  In 1972 Mr C. McMaster informed the writer of a species growing in the mountains south of Tarkastad, and this proved to be the missing species.  It is a small very proliferous species and the only tetraploid so far recorded in the subgenus Haworthia.  The distribution is rather surprising as it occurs north of Tarkastad itself, at Cradock, Graaff-Reinet, New Bethesda, Murraysburg, Nelspoort and Beaufort West.  It is very possible that H. pearsonii may also have been this species as specimens of H. marumiana do have brown‑striped flowers.  However, this is not certain and H. pearsonii is regarded still as insufficiently known.  It is possible that H. batesiana is a glabrous form of H. marumiana.  H. archeri may be a southwestern variant of H. marumiana also, although the distance between known localities of these two species is rather great.  On the other hand the known localities of H. marumiana are also very disjunct.

1999 – Col. Scott again has a fairly valid point that H. archeri is actually the original H. marumiana particularly in respect of the localities associated with the latter name.  However, my contention expressed in several of my early writings, is that interpretation of species based on illustrations or only descriptions, with no solid herbarium record, are the foundations for contention.  If I could extend this argument I would add that proper weight must also be attached to the concept of a species which has distribution range and variation.  Secondly I also based my opinion on the plants received from several different sources as well as on plants in Smith’s collection ostensibly of the type, which I would have assigned to H. marumiana as I recognised it, and not to this southwestern counterpart.  Smith’s plants of this species were from various sources including Uitewaal.  Thirdly, it is evident from the herbarium record that the Stellenbosch Garden collection of Herre had included plants from the Nuweveld mountains at Beaufort West.  I could not locate the representative specimen which Scott cites (Scott 6354) in the PRE herbarium.  This species must also be considered together with H. cymbiformis var reddii in the Cathcart/Queenstown area.  H. marumiana is now regarded as a very variable and widely distributed species of the Central and Southern Karoo.

a.var. marumiana.
The range of this species has been extended considerably since even the New Handbook.  Several collections have been made far north of Queenstown and these are as different from the typical variety as var. archeri.  There seem to be two different elements.  One is from Sterkstroom and the Penhoek Pass in which the plants are quite large and with fine patterning on the leaves.  Other collection from north and northwest are of plants with more succulent turgid leaves, and somewhat more translucent in the leaf reticulation.

Distribution: 3124 (Hanover): 32km E. Murraysburg (-CC), Bayer (NBG); Krugerskraal (-CD), Branch 315 (NBG); Aasvoelkrans (-DC), Bayer 2356 (NBG).  3125 (Middelburg): Elandsberg, N. Cradock (-DC), James 178 (BOL).  3126(Queenstown): Sterkstroom (-BC), Bruyns 5043 (BOL); N. Tarkastad (-BD), Smith 3075 (NBG), Bayer 2038 (NBG); Penhoek Pass (-DA), Bruyns 5031 (NBG); Andriesberg (-DA), Galpin 2245 (BOL, PRE).  3221 (Merweville): Tierberg (-DD), Bayer 5209 (NBG), Bruyns 2880 (BOL).  3222 (Beaufort West): Wagenpadskloof (-AD), Shearing 1224 (PRE); Karoopark (-AD), Branch 42, 298 (NBG); Stolshoek (-AD), Bruyns 3381 (BOL); Molteno Pass (-BA), Bayer 2373 (NBG), Bruyns 2949 (BOL); Beaufort West (-BA), Smith 5394 (NBG); Nelspoort (BB), Grant in KG18/70 (NBG).  3224 (Graaff Reinet): Valley of Desolation (-AB), Muller-Doblies 78/134 (NBG), Bayer 2347 (NBG).  3225 (Somerset East): Mt. Zebra Nat.Park (-AB), Branch 45 (NBG); Karreebos (-BA), Long 1152 (PRE).  3226 (Fort Beaufort): Spring Valley (‑AB), Bayer 172 (NBG)

Inadequately located: ex hort, Smith 6940 (NBG); Cradock, Archer 873 (BOL).

b.var. archeri comb.nov. 
H. archeri Barker ex Bayer, JS.Afr.Bot. 47:791(1981).  Bayer :29(1982).  H. marumiana sensu Scott :78(1985).  Type: CAPE-3320 (Montagu): Whitehill (-BA), Archer in NBG 68145 (NBG).

archeri: for Mr J. Archer.

1982 – The specimen of H. archeri in the Compton Herbarium was suspected of originating anywhere but in the Whitehill area until collected there by Peter V. Bruyns in 1977.  It is a very small compact brownish green species reaching to 60mm in diameter.  The relationship to other species is very unclear and the other species in the same subgenus occurring in that area are H. arachnoidea, H. pehlemanniae, H. lockwoodii and H. wittebergensis.  An affinity with H. magnifica is highly unlikely because of the geographic barrier and floral differences.  It is very conceivable that it is related to H. marumiana which is, however, also not known nearer than in the Nuweveld mountains at Beaufort West.  Vegetatively the plants are almost identical to H. marumiana from as far afield as Tarkastad and Graaff-Reinet, and it is primarily floral differences and geographical distribution which justify its recognition.  It grows on Dwyka sandstones among karroid vegetation but on the cooler south slopes.  The Whitehill area west of Laingsburg is north of the Witteberg mountain range and technically lies on the border of the 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.  H. archeri is not proliferous, as is H. marumiana, and is so far unknown in cultivation.

1999 -The manuscript name by Miss Barker was intended for Mr Archer who initially curated the Karoo Botanic Garden when it was still situated at Whitehill.   This element has proved decidedly more common than first supposed and also proven to be very proliferous.  It has been since also found at several places in the greater Sutherland, Merweville, and Frazerburg areas, and this seems to confirm the connection with H. marumiana.  The two varieties come very close together geographically at Prince Albert too, where some populations are still within recognisable range as var. marumiana (albeit with more distinctive patterning on the leaves).  The reticulate patterning on the leaves in the var. archeri  appears to be generally finer than is the case with var. marumiana and the leaves are less flaccid., but the var. archeri has less marking on the leaves than is generally the case.  The leaves also tend to curve outward and are a little more scabrid.  The var. archeri thus is fairly common on the higher-lying areas between the Rooiberg Pass (S. Laingsburg) and to well north of Sutherland.  There is a high degree of variation across that range, and one collection from near the Floriskraal Dam is glabrous and very like a small glabrous form of H. arachnoidea var. nigricans.  There is also a population in the Gamkapoort area which has broader leaves and less spination.  The flat elevation of the upper petals seems to be distinctive and there is an odd occurrence of the petal presentation in some populations where the plants would otherwise be regarded as simply H. arachnoidea.

Distribution: 3221 (Frazerburg): Tafelberg (-AA), Bruyns 4846 (PRE); Riethuisies (-AD), Bruyns 5970 (BOL); Oukloof Pass (-BB), Bruyns 3995 (BOL); Langberg (-CA), Bayer 2453 (NBG); Klipfontein (-CC), Bruyns 3109 (NBG).  3320 (Montagu): Baviaan, Laingsburg (-BA), Bruyns 1405 (NBG);  Matjiesfontein hills (-BA), Archer in NBG68145, Scott 3420 (PRE); Ghaapkop (-BA), Bruyns 1664 (NBG).  3321 (Ladismith): Bosluiskloof (-BC), Bruyns 3723 (BOL).

Inadequately located: ex hort, Whitehill (NBG).

c.var. batesiana (Uitew.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. batesiana Uitew., Nat.Cact.Succ.J 3:101(1948).  Bayer :101(1976).  Bayer :30(1982).  Scott :100(1985).  Type (see B&M): Cape, Graaff-Reinet, Ferguson (AMD).

batesiana: in honour of G. Bates.

1982 – As it is presently known, H. batesiana is an unusual and distinctive small species of up to 5cm in diameter recorded from the Valley of Desolation near Graaff-Reinet.  It is smooth, bright green with a light reticulate pattern on the leaves.  It also offsets very freely to form large clumps.  A recent collection by Prof. D. Muller-Doblies from the Valley of Desolation consisted of still smaller darker green plants (up to only 25 mm in diameter) in a tighter rosette of spined leaves.  These clearly belong to H. marumiana and also fit into the distribution pattern for that species.  The writer has not succeeded in finding H. batesiana in the field, but a collection from Klipplaat northwest of Cathcart is clearly comparable.  However, the plants there are too robust to be regarded as H. batesiana and it appears that there is a tendency towards H. cymbiformis.  The possibility of H. batesiana being only a glabrous variant of H. marumiana  cannot be ruled out; this is also suggested by a collection of the latter species from south of New Bethesda.

1999 – Several collections of this variety are now known.  These are by J. Bouwer in the Valley of Desolation, a collection by P.V. Bruyns from the Kamdeboo mountain, and another collection also by P.V. Bruyns from Tandjiesberg to the east of Graaff-Reinet.  In both these latter collections the plants vary quite considerably and are all glabrous.  The Klipplaat (Waterdown Dam) population is assigned to H. cymbiformis var. reddii.

Distribution: 3224 (Graaff-Reinet):  Valley of Desolation (-AB), Hurling and Neil in NBG68978, Smith 6955 (NBG), Bouwer (NBG), Scott 985 (PRE); Kamdebooberg (-AC), Bruyns 2978 (NBG); Uitkomst (-AD), Bruyns 2994 (NBG); Tandjiesberg (-BC), Bruyns 3245 (NBG,BOL).

d.var. dimorpha comb. nov. 
H. archeri var. dimorpha Bayer, JS.Afr.Bot. 47:793(1981).  Bayer :29(1982).  Type: CAPE-3320 (Montagu): Constable Station, W. Laingsburg (-AD), H. Hall in Smith 7418 (NBG).

dimorpha: two shapes.

1982 – The variety dimorpha (of H. archeri) has much fewer leaves, which in cultivation both grow much larger (up to 120 mm diam.) and flex outward.  This variety grows west of the typical variety and occurs in fynbos vegetation on Table Mountain Sandstone.”

1999 – Not much more light has been thrown on this variant.  There has been no evidence of a connection to H. nortieri to the west.  There have been some indications that a hard spinescent form resembling H arachnoidea occurs which has the same floral characters.  Attention should perhaps be paid to the block patterned reticulation that occurs in the seed capsules of this species and also in H. pulchella.  Interestingly, the same white tubercles which characterise this variety, also occur in the population of var. archeri cited above from Riethuisies in the Frazerburg area.

Distribution: 3320 (Montagu): Constable Station, W. Laingsburg (-AD), H. Hall in Smith 7418 (NBG).

e.var. viridis var.nov. 
Type: CAPE-3322 (Oudtshoorn): S. Prince Albert, Bayer 3620 (NBG, Holo.).

virida: green.

Differs from the typical in being light-green with narrower, more-erect leaves.  (A var. marumiana foliis erectis angustioribus subviridibus differt).

Plants collected by P.V. Bruyns at Vrischgewaagd west of Prince Albert, are brighter green than normal and the rosettes are fairly tight and reminiscent of H. pulchella, which is a much more scabrid species. The reticulate patterning on the leaves is still apparent.

Distribution: 3321 (Ladismith): Vrischgewaagd (-BD), Bruyns 6252 (BOL).SW. Kliphuisvlei (-BD), Thompson 2166 (PRE).  3322 (Oudtshoorn): S. Prince Albert (-AC), Krige (BOL), Bayer 3620 (NBG), Bruyns 2601 (NBG).

Haworthia Revisited – 21. Haworthia mirabilis

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21. Haworthia mirabilis Haw., Syn.Pl Succ. :95(1812).  Bayer :136(75).  Bayer :47(1982).  Bayer, Excelsa 7:37(1977).  pp. Scott :116(1985).  Aloe mirabilis Haw., Trans.Linn.Soc. 7:9(1804).  Ker-G., Curtis’ Bot.Mag. t1354(1811).  Type: Cape, Masson.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): Icon t1354, Curtis’ Bot.Mag.:  H. mundula Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 12:8(1946).  H. mirabilis ssp. mundula (Smith) Bayer :139(1976).  Bayer :47(1982).  Type: CAPE‑3419 (Caledon): Mierkraal, Bredasdorp (‑DB), M. Otzen 10 in Smith 5479 (NBG).

mirabilis: wonderful.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, to 7cm φ.  Leaves 10-15, retused, 3-4cm X 1,5cm, markedly retused, acute above, face translucent and lined, dark green, with marginal spines turning reddish in the sun.  Inflorescence slender.  Flowers narrow, elongate, biarcuate bud, upper lobes pinched at tips.

1982 – A full account of H. mirabilis is given in Excelsa (Bayer, 1977).  It is intimately associated with H. magnifica but the nature of the relationship is not fully understood.  The species grow near together at Stormsvlei and an intermediate population occurs a few miles to the south.  The species also approach one another near the Potberg at the mouth of the Breede River, at Bredasdorp and, unconfirmed, in the area east of Drew.  The initial distinction was that H. mirabilis (as H. triebnriana) was smooth on the leaf faces while H. magnifica was not.  H. mirabilis is generally a larger plant, and with more translucence in the leaves than H. magnifica.  The flower is a little larger and generally brown‑veined.  Several names such as H. willowmorensis, H. triebneriana, and H. rossouwii are placed under H. mirabilis on rather speculative grounds.  The synonymy thus indicates a very variable species and this is in fact so.  There are several places, notably at Bredasdorp and Napier, where ecological differences have resulted in forms very different from one another.  At Napier the differences are of such an order that the subspecies badia is recognised.  At Greyton, a form high in the mountains, with the typical flower of H. mirabilis, occurs.  For the present it is regarded as a variant of H. mirabilis.  There are also variants in the limestone formations of the coastal belt.  The subspecies mundula is a very proliferous variant south‑west of Bredasdorp.  It is possible that H. magnifica var. paradoxa belongs with H. mirabilis (see H. magnifica) but the coastal area has not been fully explored so that a good decision is not yet possible.

1999 – The typification of this species is obvious although Haworth in 1812 does not cite the Botanical Magazine illustration.  He does cite the preceding t.1353, Aloe recurva under Haworthia recurva, so this is quite an extraordinary oversight.  There is an illustration in the Kew library apparently labelled H. mirabilis which Scott regards as illustrating this species.  The illustration is almost identical to t.1353 and is of that species viz. H. recurva Haw. rather than of H. mirabilis.   The illustration is of a trifarious plant and, despite the annotation ‘mirabilis, ‘there can be no question of any confusion between this and the description of H. mirabilis which reads ‘quinquefarius’.  The other points are that 1. Ker-Gawler obtained his plants from Haworth and acknowledges this source; 2. Haworth refers to its singularity and ‘productions of art’; 3. Haworth places it between H. margaritifera and H. translucens(?).

This has been an old problem in Haworthia – the proliferation of names without the first establishment of the application of the old.  The recognition of the correct application of the species name requires some additional modification to the structure of the species.  While citing the wrongly labelled Kew illustration, Scott also omits mention of the Ker-Gawler illustration.  In addition to this he appears to have identified several collection of H. maraisii as H. mirabilis which is also apparent from his distribution map.  These two species do not co-occur and yet they seem to be discrete.  Two populations are known which appear to be interactions of the two elements.

a.var. mirabilis.
It is clear that H. mirabilis had to have some application and this has previously been found in terms of a host of varieties.  In retrospect it is apparent that the only variety that satisfies the requirements of the species as originally described is H. mundula of Smith, transferred only to H. mirabilis as a subspecies in 1976.  It is a problem of the nomenclatural system that the species may be described from a non-representative element, as has happened here where only one deviant population is concerned.  The specimen nominated as the epitype by Breuer and Metzing is again unfortunate because this is the variant beukmannii.

Distribution: CAPE‑3419 (Caledon): Mierkraal, Bredasdorp (‑DB), M. Otzen 10 in Smith 5479 (NBG), Smith 3951, 5364, 5612 (NBG).

Inadequately located: ex hort, Malherbe in NBG303/60.

  • Haworthia mirabilis var mirabilis JDV96/33 southwest of Bredasdorp. G.G.Smith had made no attempt to relate his collections to Haworth’s original species. In fact very few authors have made the attempt to relate names to a concept of specie as natural phenomena.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var mirabilis JDV96/33 southwest of Bredasdorp. Very proliferous and mat-forming at the single locality known.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var mirabilis JDV92/84 southwest of Bredasdorp. The plants colour deeply in the dry summer, usually reddish.

b.var. badia (V.Poelln.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. badia V.Poelln., Kakteenkunde 7:76(1938).  Haworthia mirabilis subsp. badia (V.Poelln.) Bayer :101(1976).  Bayer, Excelsa 7:42(1977).  Bayer :47(1982).  Type: Cape, Napier, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1058.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (B&M): icon, Kakteenk. en Kakteenfr. :76(1938).

badia: reddish brown.

This is a robust, slowly proliferous variety growing in sandstone derived depauperate clay, in among pebbles and low-growing fynbos.  The leaves are quite attenuate and develop a very deep shiny brown colour in the sun.  Unfortunately most of its rather unique habitat has been destroyed by quarrying activity and invasion by alien vegetation.

Distribution: 3419 (Napier): Napier (‑BD), I. Williams 616 (NBG), Payne in PRE 34870, Smith 3239, 3269, 5207, 5480 (NBG), Bayer in KG628/69, Rossouw in NBG2095/37 (BOL); 3km Napier to Caledon (-BD), Scott 2207 (PRE).

  • Haworthia mirabilis var. badia JDV88/66 west of Napier. Usually a chestnut brown in the field.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. badia JDV88/66 west of Napier. Often protected under low shrublets. Can be surprisingly difficult to see.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. badia JDV88/66 west of Napier. The shiny end area of the leaf is conspicuous and characteristic.

c.var. beukmannii (V.Poelln.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. emelyae var. beukmannii V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 49:29(1940).  Type: Cape, Caledon, C. Beukman.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (B&M): icon (B). Epitype (designated here): CAPE‑3419 (Caledon): Skuitsberg (‑BA), Smith 3969 (NBG).

beukmannii: for C. Beukman.

This is a very robust form with strongly retused leaves and spined margins.

Distribution: CAPE‑3419 (Caledon): Skuitsberg (‑BA), Smith 3969, 3258, 3832, 5184, 5646 (NBG), Fourcade 41, 86 (NBG), Bayer in KG32/70 (NBG), Bayer 2453 (NBG), Venter 16 (BOL).

  • Haworthia mirabilis var. beukmannii JDV96/45 Skuitsberg. The plants are large despite growing in restricted shale cracks.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. beukmannii JDV96/45 Skuitsberg. The leaf tips are generally retused.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. beukmannii JDV96/45 Skuitsberg. Caledon. Occasionally proliferous.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. beukmannii JDV88/70 Skuitsberg. It has been suggested that, historically, this was the possible origin of the species.

d.var. calcarea var.nov. 
Type: CAPE-3420 (Bredasdorp): De Hoop (-AD), C. Burgers 1648 (NBG, Holo.).

calcarea: pertaining to lime.

Differs from the species in having short erect leaves, with a short retused end-area.  It is proliferous and the rosettes, at least in cultivation, tend to be raised as opposed to remaining flattish to the ground.  (A var. mirabilis foliis brevioribus erectis viridibus sordidus differt).

First collected by C. Burgers in the De Hoop Nature reserve where it grows on low-lying limestone rocks.  There are two other collections from the Potberg area which may have some connection with this variety, or with the species.  One is by Prof. Compton in which the plants appear to have been in sand and very obscure.  At first sight they appear to be of H. mutica, but they have very pointed leaves.  The other collection is also by C. Burgers and appear to be of plants with more slender and longer leaves from the lower slopes of the Potberg.  There is also a collection from the Potberg once made by A. Mitchell of a very small plant, like the variety consanguinea described below, but which is H. variegata var. modesta.  H. heidelbergensis is also known from this area.

Distribution: 3420 (Bredasdorp): De Hoop (-AD), C. Burgers 1648 (NBG); NNE. Buffelsfontein (-BC), Burgers 2018 (NBG).

  • Haworthia mirabilis var. calcarea JDV84/65 De Hoop. An unusual occurance for the species in limestone.

e.var. consanguinea var.nov. 
Type: CAPE-3419 (Caledon): Die Galg (-BA), Bayer (NBG, Holo.).

consanguinea: related.

A small proliferous, relatively soft-leaved form comparable with the small proliferous mountain form of H. turgida.  (A var. mirabilis rosulis parvioribus prolificantibus facile et foliis virellis differt).

It is difficult to deal with these montane forms which seem to occur in the sandstone ranges from the Potberg, the Riviersonderend, the Langeberg, the Swartberg and the Cedarberg mountains.  This particular element seems to be associated with the lower-lying varieties in the shales, in the same way that H. turgida transposes to retusa-like forms.  Although looking very similar to the sandstone forms of H. turgida, it has the very narrow elongate buds of H. mirabilis, and also the leaves have the brownish-red coloration associated with H. mirabilis.  The P.V. Bruyns collection cited below is significantly different from the two others as the leaves are quite slender.

Distribution: 3419 (Caledon): Die Galg (-BA), Bayer (NBG); Dwarswaterkloof (-BA), Bruyns 3244 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Near McGregor, Esterhuysen 5218, 5219 (BOL).

  • Haworthia mirabilis var. consanguinea JDV88/63 Dwarswaterkloof southwest of McGregor. This form is also in sandstone and the leaves are slender and slightly cylindrical.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. consanguinea JDV84/76 Die Galg northeast of Greyton. This form is very similar to H. turgida except that it has the brownish-red tints of H. mirabilis, and also a similar flower.

f.var. paradoxa (V.Poelln.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. paradoxa V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 33:240(1933).  idem. Desert.Pl.Life 99:90(1937).  H. maraisii var. paradoxa (V.Poelln.) Bayer :143(1976).  H. magnifica var. paradoxa (V.Poelln.) Bayer, Nat.Cact.Succ.J 32:18(1977).  Bayer :45(1982).  pp. H. asperula Haw. sensu Scott :119(1985).  Type: Cape, Vermaaklikheid, Mrs Ferguson in Stellenbosch 6692.  Not preserved.  Neotype (B&M): Riversdale, Ferguson (BOL).

paradoxa: paradoxical.

Von Poellnitz did not explain his epithet and simply related it to his H. schuldtiana (H. maraisii).  He was struck by the spines on the leaf face which are unusual.  A greater paradox is the relation of this element to H. emelyae var. major which also has a very spined leaf surface.  It does not follow that such spines are a dichotomously allocated character.  Their occurrence in H. magnifica does not necessarily suggest that var. paradoxa is better placed there on these and geographical grounds, than with H. mirabilis.  The var. paradoxa also seems to be associated with limestones and there is no other known link with H. mirabilis east of the Breede River.  The solution which I offer is the somewhat dubious connection of the species through H. heidelbergensis, and possibly also through the two populations ascribed to var. calcarea.

Distribution: 3421 (Riversdale): Vermaaklikheid (‑AC), J. Dekenah 8 (NBG), Kramer 433 (PRE), Fourcade 277 (NBG), Smith 3272, 5388, 6109 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Ferguson 1 (BOL).

  • Haworthia mirabilis var. paradoxa JDV94/89 south of Vermaaaklikheid. Proliferous and growing on coastal limestones.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. paradoxa JDV94/89 south of Vermaaaklikheid. Very similar both vegetatively and florally to H. emelyae var. major.

g.var. sublineata (V.Poelln.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. triebneriana var. sublineata V.Poelln. in Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:135(1938).  Type: Cape, Bredasdorp, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1106.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3420 (Bredasdorp): S. Bredasdorp (-CA), Smith 3966 (NBG).

sublineata: almost lined.

This is also a sandstone variant from south of Bredasdorp.  The leaves are relatively long and slender.  A similar, well-lined but more robust form used to be abundant immediately north of the town too along the river bank.  It should be expected to occur further to the west.

Distribution: 3420 (Bredasdorp): S. Bredasdorp (-CA), Smith 3966 (NBG), Stayner in KG209/60; N. Bredasdorp (-CA), Smith 3252, 3266, 3830, 3976 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Bredsadorp, Venter 17, 18 (BOL), Barker 21337 (BOL).

  • Haworthia mirabilis var. sublineata JDV88/67 south of Bredasdorp. A more robust form used to occur to the north of the town as well.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. sublineata JDV88/67 south of Bredasdorp. A lighter green colour and with long attenuate leaves.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. sublineata JDV88/67 south of Bredasdorp. Very similar forms also occur in the sandstones north of Riviersonderend mountains.

h.var. triebneriana (V.Poelln.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. triebneriana V.Poelln., Cactus J 5:33(1936). idem. Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 41:214(1937).  idem. Cactus J 6:36(1937).  idem. Desert.Pl.Life 99:101(1937).  idem. Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 47:8(1939):  H. mirabilis Haw.  pp. Bayer :136(1976).  pp. Bayer :47(1982).  pp. Bayer, Excelsa 7:42(1977).  pp. Scott :69(1985).  Type: Cape, Strydomsvlei, Mrs Helm in Triebn. 841. Not preserved. Lectotype (Bayer, 1976): icon. (B):  H. willowmorensis V.Poelln., Feddes Repert Spec.Nov. 41:216(1937).  non Scott, Aloe 11:42(1973).  Type: Cape, Willowmore, Mrs Helm in Triebn. 840.  Not preserved. Lectotype (B&M): icon (B):  H. triebneriana var. depauperata idid. 43:94(1938).  ibid. Desert.Pl.Life 9:101(1937).  Type: Cape, Stormsvlei near Robertson, Payne in Triebn. 990. Not preserved. Lectotype (Bayer, 1976): icon. (B):  H. triebneriana var. multituberculata idem. Feddes Repert Spec.Nov. 44:135.  idem. 47:10(1939).  Type: Cape, NW. Napier, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1111. Not preserved. Lectotype (Bayer, 1976): icon, (B):  H. triebneriana var. rubrodentata Triebn. et V.Poelln. ibid. 47:10(1939).  Type: Cape, between Villiersdorp and Greyton, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1143.  Not preserved. Lecotype (B&M): icon (B). Epitype (designated here): CAPE-3419(Caledon): near Genadendal (-BA), Bayer in KG692/69 (NBG):  H. triebneriana var. napierensis ibid.  Type: Cape, Napier, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1145.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3419(Caledon): Skietpad (-BD), Bayer 4642 (NBG):  H. triebneriana var. turgida Triebn. ibid. 47:11(1939).  Type: Cape, N. of Napier, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1107.  Not preserved:  H. triebneriana var. subtuberculata V.Poelln. idem. 47:10(1939).  Type: Cape, S. Caledon, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 1114.  Not preserved:  H. triebneriana var. pulchra V.Poelln. ibid. 49:29(1940).  Type: Cape, N. Stormsvlei, Stellenbosch 19.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3420(Bredasdorp): Stormsvlei Pass, Beukmann in Smith 5609 (NBG):  H. rossouwii V.Poelln., Kakteenkunde 7:75(1938).  Type: Cape, Napier, Rossouw in Triebn. 1059.  Not preserved. Lecotype (B&M): icon (B). H. nitidula V.Poelln., Desert.Pl.Life 11:192(1939), Bayer, Cact.Succ.J(U.S.) 52:10(1980).  Type: Cape, Worcester, Swellendam etc., Venter 15.  Not preserved. Lectotype (B&M): icon (B).  Epitype (designated here): CAPE-3419(Caledon): near Greyton, Bayer in KG31/70 (NBG).

triebneriana; in honour of W. Triebner.

In recognising the typical variety as the previously named ssp. mundula, it becomes necessary to find a name for the main body of the species, and this is now taken from the first name that can be fairly definitely associated with the species.  This is despite the improbable locality cited for H. triebneriana and considering the very poor records associated with Triebner’s contributions.  Where the typical variety of the species is restricted to the single locality southwest of Bredasdorp, this generalised variety is widespread in the area from Caledon, east to Swellendam, to Napier and back to Caledon.  At Swellendam there is an additional population to the one south of Stormsvlei where this species is confounded with H. maraisii.

Distribution: 3419 (Caledon): Uitkyk (-AB), Smith 5562 (NBG), Bayer in KG682/69 (NBG); N. Uitkyk (-AB), Bayer in KG28/70 (NBG); Dagbreek (-BA), Bayer 2453 (NBG); near Greyton (-BA), Smith 3245, 3260, 3265, 3419, 3811, 3904, 3905, 3968, 5481, 5482, 5643 (NBG), Bayer in KG 30/70, in KG31/70 (NBG); Near Genadendal (-BA), Bayer in KG692/69 (NBG); Skietpad (-BD), Bayer 4642 in KG510/70 (NBG); Mierkraal, Napier (-BD), Bayer in KG681/69 (NBG).  342O(Bredasdorp): Stormsvlei (-AA), Smith 3254, 3457, 3971, 5609, Bayer in KG26/70 (NBG), De Kok  296 (NBG); Near Breede River (-AB), Tomlinson 13680 (PRE).

Inadequately located: ex Triebner, Smith 4947 (NBG); Venter in NBG6290/39; Caledon, Venter 13, 15 (BOL).

  • Haworthia mirabilis var. treberiana JDV96/47 southeast of Greyton. Large plants which are often subjected to fire.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. treberiana JDV94/90 Schietpad, Napier. The typical variety is the residue of plants of the species not named as varieties. May be robust or relatively small.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. treberiana JDV94/90 Schietpad. This was the locality for the ‘var. napierensis’ V.Poelin.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. treberiana JDV94/90 Schietpad. Some plants are somewhat tuberculate.
  • Haworthia mirabilis var. treberiana JDV90/34 west of Genadendal. Occasionally the marginal spines may be conspicuously reddish.
H. Mirabilis 8347

Haworthia mirabilis (Haw.) Haw.
[as Aloe mirabilis Haw.] 
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine,
vol. 33: t. 1354 (1811) [n.a.]

Haworthia Revisited – 22. Haworthia monticola

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22. Haworthia monticola Fourc., Trans.Roy.Soc.S.Afr. 21:78(1937).  Scott :57(1985).  Type: Cape, George and Uniondale districts, Fourcade 2498 (K):  H. divergens Bayer :113(1976).  Bayer :38(1982).  Type: CAPE‑3322 (Oudtshoorn): Molen River (‑DD), Bayer 175 (NBG).

monticola: mountain dwelling.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, 2-4cm φ. Leaves 30-40, elongate, lanceolate, 2-6cm long, tips incurving, margins and keel with small spines, upper surfaces often with pellucid spots.  Inflorescence slender, to 30cm.  Flowers sparse, white.

1982 – The name of this species [i.e. divergens] is derived from its probable relationship with H. variegata and H. angustifolia.  It occurs in the Outeniqua mountains between Oudtshoorn and Willowmore and is separated from H. variegata, which it closely resembles, by the Langeberg mountains, the Gouritz River Valley and the intercession of H. chloracantha.  It is separated from H. angustifolia by a distance of about 160km.  The leaf tips tend to curve inwards and the marginal spines are more conspicuous than in related species.  Towards Uniondale and Willowmore the species is still strongly variegated but becomes smaller.  Beyond Willowmore there is a suggestion that it may intergrade with H. zantneriana.

1999 – Fourcade’s argument that Baker in Flora Capensis of 1880, was describing this species in mistake for Haworth’s H. angustifolia, is weak in the extreme.  His reference to translucence in the lower leaf area is nonsensical and is simply a consequence of submergence which occurs in most species when so growing.  There is no doubt from his specimens that he was dealing with a different species, and why he should have decided to draw Baker’s, or even Schultes earlier description into doubt is odd.  They were both based on Haworth’s species and probably on Salm-Dyck’s illustration.  This is why I applied a new name viz. H. divergens.  However, if it is argued that Fourcade’s species has no connection to Baker, and is based on and typified by different material (Fourcade’s own specimens), then I presume his name should stand.

Affinities between this species and H. angustifolia are often cited.  However, there is a problem of distribution and geographical co-herence.  It is far more probable that the connection of the two species is through H. zantneriana and the problem can only be fully understood through a good knowledge of the mountain ranges of the southern Cape.  There are very few collections of H. monticola east of Willowmore.  The furthest is at Sandvlakte in the Baviaanskloof where the plants have fairly turgid leaves with some translucence.  This is however, in the southern mountains of the Baviaanskloof and thus cannot connect to H. zantneriana.  If it did prove continuous with that species it would have to be east of the Perdepoort to the north of Willowmore.  There is a collection of P.V. Bruyns (6316) from that area which may prove to be this missing link.  In fact the more recent collection also by Bruyns (7071) cited under H. zantneriana var. minor, is from the specified area and seems to confirm the continuity of the two taxa.  A collection by J.D. Venter from the Witberg east of Willowmore, may do the same.  Here the plants are less denticulate, very spotted and rather softer than usual for the species.  There does not seem to be any likelihood that there is a direct connection with H. angustifolia across the barrier of the Groot River Valley.  The Oudekraal collections of that species (its var. baylissii) do allow suggestion of such an affinity.

a. var.monticola .
The typical variety is very similar in appearance to H. variegata with mottling of the leaf surfaces.  Around Uniondale these markings are less conspicuous and the leaves are blackish.  Southeast of Willowmore the leaves are almost spineless and the plants are very mottled.

Distribution: 3322 (Oudtshoorn): 13km N. Klaarstroom (-BC), Bruyns 2255 (NBG); Molen River (‑DD), Bayer 175 (NBG), Smith 2895 (NBG); Erfpacht (-DD), Smith 5809 (NBG).   3323 (Willowmore): Leeukloof (-AB), Stayner in KG117/62 (NBG), Venter 91/139 (NBG); Boesmanspoortberg (-AB), Bruyns 6316 (BOL); Perdepoort (-AB), Branch 461 (NBG); Georgida (-AD), Bayer 3363 (NBG); Witberg (-BC), Venter 92/102 (NBG); S. Willowmore (-BC), Stayner in KG644/61 (NBG); Uniondale (-CA), Stayner in KG242/70 (NBG); Langkloof (-CA), Taute in NBG1282/26 (NBG); 9km W. Uniondale (-CA), Fourcade 3606 (PRE); E. Uniondale (-CA), Bayer 3384 (NBG); NE. Uniondale (-CA), Smith 3664, 3665 (NBG); Nuwekloof (-DA), Bruyns 1655 (NBG).  3324(Steytlerville): Bosrugpad, Sandvlakte (-CA), Boycott in NBG144868; Dam se Drif (-CA), Bruyns 1844 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Uniondale, Herre 5686 (BOL); Oudtshoorn, Taylor 31 (BOL).

  • Haworthia monticola var. monticola JDV94/64 southeast of Willowmore. A smallish dark form.
  • Haworthia monticola var. monticola JDV86/90 Uniondale. Only slightly variegated.
  • Haworthia monticola var. monticola JDV86/79 northwest of Uniondale. The leaves are more incurved at the tips, otherwise there is a resemblance, even in the flowers, to H. angustifolia.

b. var. asema var.nov. 
Type: CAPE-3321 (Ladismith): Calitzdorp, Besemkop (-DA), J.D. Venter 12 (NBG, Holo.).

asema: without distinguishing marks.

Leaves smoother, more turgid, generally shorter, more uniformly grey-green, flowering very much earlier.  (A var. monticola radicibus crassioribus et foliis brevioribus obesioribus griseo-viridibus differt).

This variety is widely separated from the main body of the species and is known at two localities northeast of Calitzdorp.  It does not have clear relationships with H. monticola nor with any other species.  The root system is less branching, the roots much more succulent, it flowers very much earlier and the off-sets are very quickly free of the mother plant.  It may be the species noted by Von Poellnitz as H. angustifolia from Calitzdorp (also commented on under H. pulchella).  It is not given species status simply because it is inadequately known and there is no better information relating it to other species.

Distribution: 3321 (Ladismith): Calitzdorp, Besemkop (-DA), J.D. Venter 12 (NBG); Kruisrivier (-BC), Venter 90/57 (NBG).

  • Haworthia monticola var. asema JDV90/57 south of Kruisrivier. Flowers much earlier than the typical variety and can be considered to be separate.
  • Haworthia monticola var. asema JDV90/57 south of Kruisrivier. Grows in large clusters and the offsets are loosely attached to each other.

Haworthia Revisited – 23. Haworthia mucronata

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23. Haworthia mucronata Haw., Haworth, Suppl .. Pl. Succ.: 50 (1819). Type: Cape, exhort. Kew. Not preserved. Lectotype: icon (K): H. helmiae V.Poelln., Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. 41: 201 (1937). Scott: 99 (1985). H. unicolorvar. helmiae (V.Poelln.) M.B.Bayer: 121 (1976), Bayer: 59(1982): Type: Cape, Heidelberg, Smithers in Triebn. 901, Gt Brak River, Mrs Helm in Triebn. 901. Not preserved . Lectotype (B&M): icon, (B). Epitype (designated here): CAPE-3322 (Oudtshoorn): Schoemanspoort (-AC), Bayer 171 (NBG): H. V. Poelln., Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. 44: 233 (1938), Scott: 98 (1985). Type: Cape, Little Karoo, Mrs E. Ferguson. Not preserved. Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3321 (Calitzdorp): On the Gamka East road (-DA), Scott 1050 (PRE): H unicolorV.Poelln., Kakteenkunde 10: 133 (icon), 154 (1937). Bayer: 165 (1976). H. unicolor var. unicolor (V.Poelln .) M.B.Bayer: 59 (1982): Type: Cape, Barrydale, A.J. Joubert in STE5230. Not preserved. Lectotype (B&M): icon in Kakteenk. & Kakteenfr.: 133 (1937): Epitype (designated here): CAPE-3320 (Montagu): Barrydale (-DC), J. Dekenah 234 (NBG): H. mclarenii V.Poelln., Des. Pl. Life 11: 107 (1939). Type: Cape, near Barrydale, G. McLaren in Triebn. 1160. Not preserved. Lectotype (B&M): icon (B): H. aristata Haw. sensu. V.Poelln., Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. 43: 92 (1938). Ibid. 49: 27 (1940). Sensu Jacobsen 2: 537 (1954). Sensu CL.Scott, Nat. Cact. Succ. J. 35: 11 (1980). Ibid.: 110 (1937): H. serrata M.B.Bayer sensu CL.Scott: 62 (1985).

mucronata: pointed.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, 6-12cm φ.  Leaves 30-45, soft, incurved, broadly ovate-lanceolate, slightly pellucid, with translucent margins and keel, both often spined.  Inflorescence simple, robust.  Flowers many, compact on peduncle, broad across upper tube, white with green venation.

NOTE: Considerable confusion surrounds the above and following synonymies.  The species H. unicolor and H. rycroftiana are now included here, and one variety of the former, var. venteri, is transferred to H. arachnoidea.  Haworthia habdomadis and its varieties are also subsumed in this new arrangement, under H. mucronata.

1982 – The original specimen of H. unicolor was from the town of Barrydale and pale green plants of this kind can still be found in that immediate area.  However, von Poellnitz also included citations from Montagu and Ockertskraal.  In a later publication (1938), he included the species in synonymy under H. aristata on the basis of plants received from Long from the Cango Caves.  These plants included forms which von Poellnitz felt represented both his H. unicolor and H. aristata.  However, in Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. 43:92(1940), he continues the discussion and cites specimens, one later to be described as H. mclarenii.  It seems clear that these citations by vn Poellnitz refer to the better known and highly variable H. unicolor var. venteri.  The locality of H. mclarenii cited by Von Poellnitz as Tulbagh was patently erroneous.  G.G. Smith records that W.E. Armstrong wrote “I had sent away a batch of plants, some from Mr McLaren and others from Miss de Klerk of Tulbagh and of the batch L693, Arm. 180 and Trieb.1160 actually collected by Miss de Klerk of Uitzicht, P.O. Tulbagh, at Barrydale, was erroneously named H. mclarenii”.  There is thus no doubt that this species is synonymous with H. unicolor.  A photograph by Fourcade (no.224) of H. mclarenii also confirms this view.  The type locality for H. venteri was recorded by Smith as ” 3/4m. Barrydale‑Lemoenshoek” although Major H. Venter’s localities are very broadly stated in publication and practically valueless.  Only Smith’s notes give any better clue to these but in this case there is still no certainty.  However, there is a very common species extending from Barrydale to Oudtshoorn from which this variety is clearly drawn.  At Barrydale itself the plants are rather pale green with elongated sparsely setate leaves ‑ this is regarded here as the species H. unicolor.  Eastward the plants are more robust and often glabrous, usually distinguished by particularly dark‑purplish coloration towards the leaf tips.  The further eastward one progresses the more setate the plants become until at Oudtshoorn, south of the Cango Caves, the plants are comparatively small and more softly setate (H. unicolor var.helmiae).  It is not in the least clear what the relationship is between H. unicolor and H. arachnoidea.  They do not appear to cohabit which suggests that they may be conspecific and only differentiated on an ecotypic basis.  This is borne out by the pale arachnoidea‑like population at the northern entrance to the Tradouw Pass, south of Barrydale.  However at Ladismith H. arachnoidea is present as a very distinct heavily setate form, and similarly south of the Cango Caves it occurs near to H. unicolor var. helmiae as a softer haired but also highly setate form.  Cognisance must also be taken of H. integra from apparently west of Ladismith.  The species H. unicolor is therefore not well‑known or properly understood and this solution must be regarded as suspect.  Von Poellnitz’s citations of localities for the var. helmiae are highly confusing and in Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. 44:223(1938) are totally disparate.  The type is cited in 1938 as “Great Brak River, Mrs Helm” and three Triebner numbers are added to this.  Mrs Helm’s strong personal recollection (private communication, and acknowledgement to Col. C.L. Scott) is that the original plants were collected at a specific site south of the Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn.  The photograph extant in the Botanical Museum Dahlem (which must serve as the type) is of a very poor specimen, but it can be reasonably allied with plants from the site given by Mrs Helm.  It is concluded that it is an extension of the complex to which it is here referred.  J.R. Brown’s illustrations in Cactus Succul.J(U.S.) 18:39(1946) are not of this variety.

1999 – The confusion here is not only due to human error and  perversity.  The problem lies in trying to explain the difficulties of the situation itself, and then in the light of all the different perceptions about the species which may or may not be involved.  Col. Scott distributes elements of the single typical variety into four species (including his perception of H serrata Bayer) in three different sections, and this exemplifies how difficult it is to arrive at a consensus.  To understand the changes effected here, one should read the synonymy thoroughly.  The changes are consistent with the explanations given in 1982 and it is felt that var. venteri should in fact go under H. arachnoidea under an older name nigricans.  Similarly var. helmiae is subsumed under H. arachnoidea as well.  The remnant, H. unicolor, correctly belongs to H. mucronata Haw. but not in the sense used by Scott where elements of H. bolusii, H. cooperi, H. aristata, H. arachnoidea and possibly two other species are also included.

Three factors are important in ringing these changes:-

  1. A collection from northeast of Montagu (cited under the var. inconfluens) in which the plants are highly variable and which could be assigned to var. habdomadis, var. mucronata, var. integra and possibly to H. arachnoidea var. nigricans.
  2. The relationship of H. arachnoidea to this species via its varieties.
  3. The relationship of H. rycroftiana to H. integra V.Poelln. as interpreted by Scott (the name integra is now upheld over the former).

Apart from these factors, the characteristic of the species is the translucence along the margins and keels, which separates it from H. arachnoidea.  Unfortunately the confusion within the ambit of the species itself confounds interpretation of relations with other species.  Hayashi (unpublished) repeats and emphasizes the probable relationship of the species with H. cymbiformis through its var. transiens, as conjectured in 1982.  One cannot exclude a similar relationship with H. cooperi as also conjectured under the var. habdomadis.  The inclusion of all those diverse elements in H. mucronata sensu Scott, does not hint at the real relationship of the species with H. decipiens and H. lockwoodii north of Seweweekspoort.  There is considerable difficulty in unequivocally designating specimens.

a. var. mucronata.
The typical variety occurs around Barrydale and it is clear that there are many variants including the transformation to arachnoidea-like plants in Tradouw Pass.  It was these variants which initially suggested to me that the variation to H. arachnoidea var. nigricans was continuous.  However, the glabrous forms of the latter should always be distinguished by the characteristic of non-tranlucent keel or margins to the leaf.  The leaves of this variety (the argument can be extended to the varieties integra and nigricans) may become very spiny.  The loss of marginal translucence, particularly in the northwestern Little Karoo makes it very difficult to distinguish it from H. arachnoidea.

Distribution: 3320(Montagu): Barrydale (‑DC), J. Dekenah 234 (NBG), Smith 3911, 3992, 6572 (NBG), Smithers (BOL), Bolus in NBG697/32 (BOL), Hurling & Neil (BOL), Jordaan (BOL), Villet in KG180/61 (NBG), Stayner in KG119/71 (NBG); 18km W. Barrydale (-DC), Scott 6200 (PRE); Hills S. Barrydale (-DC), Scott 5089 (PRE).  3321(Ladismith): Algerynkraal, Brakkloof (-AD), Curator PRE Bot. Garden 3628 (PRE).

Inadequately located: Montagu, Rogers in BOL15478.

  • Haworthia mucronata var. mucronata JDV92/53 north of Barrydale. This typical variety has a thinner, less turgid leaf than the more widespread var. inconfluens.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. mucronata JDV92/55 south of Barrydale. At the original locality the plants are mostly without marginal spines to the leaves.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. mucronata JDV92/50 Perdekop. Here, as at most localities other than the type, the plants have spines on leaf margins and keels.

b. var. habdomadis (V.Poelln.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. habdomadis V.Poelln., Desert.Pl.Life 11:88(1938).  Scott :106(1985).  H. inconfluens var. habdomadis (V.Poelln.) Bayer :121 (1976).  H. habdomadis var. habdomadis (V.Poelln) Bayer, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 32:18(1977).  Bayer :41(1982).  Type: Cape, Seweweekspoort, A.J. Joubert in Stellenbosch 7692.  Not preserved.  Neotype (B&M): Seweweekspoort , Barker & Lewis in NBG2764/32 (BOL).

habdomadis: referring to Sevenweekspoort.

1982 – Haworthia habdomadis is a species of the Little Karoo and it extends from Anysberg in the west to as far as Uniondale in the east.  Three varieties are recognised as in H. unicolor and these two species have a puzzling relationship.  Apart from a locality south of Vanwyksdorp, they are not known to occur together.  H. habdomadis var. habdomadis is an element occurring in the sandstone mountains between Sevenweekspoort and just west of Ladismith.  The var. inconfluens is more opaque and is usually spineless.  This variety occurs in a form at Anysberg barely distinguishable from H. cymbiformis var. transiens, in that it has the same rounded leaf tips.  The var. morrisiae is generally a brilliant green colour and occurs in the Oudtshoorn/Volmoed areas.  However, it also occurs at Prince Albert and at Van Wyksdorp.  It has both pointed and unpointed leaf forms and the distribution does not seem to strictly complement that of the var. inconfluens.  Furthermore the form at Van Wyksdorp has the purple tinges associated with H. unicolor var. venteri.  The form at Van Wyksdorp has the characteristic leaf shape of H. unicolor var. venteri with the same well‑defined keel and terminal bristle, and at this locality it grows practically in conjunction with that species.  The two species flower simultaneously and there do not seem to be significant differences in the flowers.  The presence of H. habdomadis var. inconfluens north of Uniondale needs confirmation of identification.

1999 – The circumscription here narrows this variety down to the sandstone forms with a more compact translucent rosette.  Although also known from just west of Ladismith, very little further information regarding its distribution is available.  Spined forms of this nature are known north of Seweweekspoort and also east of De Rust and presumed to be the var. inconfluens.  The recurrence of such soft, short leaved forms north of Montagu is surprising and perhaps re-enforces the perception of ecological adaptation, in this case to low-nutrient sandstone.  If this is the case, similar forms should occur on the south facing rocks of the Touwsberg, Anysberg and Warmwaterberg.

Distribution: 3321 (Ladismith): Dwarsrivier (-AC), Bayer 1618 (NBG); Swartbergkloof (-AC), Joubert 182 (BOL); Seweweekspoort (‑AD), H. Hall in NBG69371, Hall 2199 (PRE); Smith 7524 (NBG), Malherbe in NBG654/41, Compton & Lamb in NBG2340/27 (BOL), Barker & Lewis in NBG2764/32 (BOL); Lower Seweweekspoort (-AD), Smith 6991 (NBG).

  • Haworthia mucronata var. habdomadis JDV97/120 Seweweekspoort. The leaves are shorter and broader than in the typical variety or the var. inconfluens.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. habdomadis JDV97/120 Seweweekspoort. There are several sandstone mountain ridges in the Little Karoo, and where H. mucronata or H. arachnoidea occur on them, they occur as smaller, softer variants.

c. var. inconfluens (V.Poelln.) Bayer comb.nov. 
H. altilinea var. limpida fa inconfluens V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 45:169(1938).  H. mucronata var. limpida fa inconfluens idem. 49:29(1940).  H. inconfluens (V.Poelln) Bayer :121(1976).  H. habdomadis var. inconfluens (V.Poelln) Bayer, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 32:18(1977).  Bayer :41(1982).  Type: Cape, Ladismith waterfall, H. Herre in STE7695.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (B&M): icon, Triebner 1031 (B):  H. bijliana var. joubertii V.Poelln., Cactus J 5:36(1936). idem., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 41:196(1937).  H. setata var. bijliana sv joubertii idem. 44:224(1938).  H. setata var. joubertii (V.Poelln.) Jacobsen, Hand.Succ.Pl. 2:593(1960).  Type: Cape, Ladismith, A.J. Joubert in Triebn. 878.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3321 (Ladismith): N. Ladismith (-AD), Smith 5734 (NBG).

inconfluens: coming together.

It is not known to what von Poellnitz alluded when he named this form.  Presumable he was referring to the lines of the leaves joining towards the leaf-tips, or he may have been alluding to the coming-together of different geographic forms.  The var. joubertii was collected north of the town of Ladismith where spined forms of this large variety grow.  Just south of the town there is a massive population of spineless plants.  This variety is not well-represented in the herbarium although it is known as far afield as Hoekvandieberg and Bellair Dam.  Eastward it is known to the Huisriver Pass and again northeast of Calitzdorp.  From there it is apparently replaced by the green var. morrisiae.  A pale grey-green counterpart is found again from Uniondale eastward and this is probably the route to either H. cymbiformis or to H. cooperi.  There is another transformation north of Seweweekspoort, already referred to, which involves H. decipiens and H. lockwoodii.  Where previous authors have simply confounded H. bolusii var. blackbeardiana with H. mucronata, these populations would surely have driven them finally to a more realistic appreciation of the actual problems involved.

Distribution: 3320 (Montagu): Montagu (-CA), Dymond in NBG2096/32 (NBG); Knipes Bath (-CA), Smith 3990 (NBG); Dammetjies (-CB), Stayner in KG47/67 (NBG); Jakkalsfontein (-DA), Bayer 4438 (NBG); Anysberg Pass (-DA), Bayer 1986 (NBG), Martin 57 (NBG); Warmwaterberg (-DA), Smith 7310 (NBG), 3321(Ladismith): 8km W. Ladismith (-AC), (NBG); Dwarsrivier (-AC), Bayer in KG567/71 (NBG); N. Ladismith (-AD), Smith 5734 (NBG); Ladismith (-AD), Pole-Evans in PRE34908, Malherbe in NBG587/40; Die Berg (-BC), Bayer 159 (NBG); Huis River Pass (-BC), Hardy 320 (PRE), Smith 6887 (NBG); Boerbonefontein (-CA), Laidler 361 (NBG); Noukloof (-CA), Laidler 84 (NBG); 4,5 km south of Ladismith(‑CA), Smith 5503, 5730, 5731 (NBG), Bayer 1628, in KG 590/71 (NBG); 9km SW. Ladismith (-CA).  3322 (Oudtshoorn): Schoemanspoort (-AD), Taylor (BOL).

Inadequately located: Calitzdorp, Blackburn (BOL).

  • Haworthia mucronata var. inconfluens JDV91/97 south of Langsburg. The plants are normally a paler green with more turgid leaves than the typical variety, and without spines too.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. inconfluens JDV89/56 Prinsberg, western Little Karoo. The similarity of the varieties stresses the difficulty of circumscribing them even geographically.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. inconfluens JDV86/102 south of the Ladismith. In some populations the plants are more spinose and the historic confusion with H. bolusii var. blackbeardiana is quite justified.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. inconfluens JDV91/74 east of Rooinek Pass in the Witteberg. Here the plants may have spinescent leaf margins and somewhat resemble H. decipiens.

d. var. morrisiae  V.Poelln.,
Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 49:29(1940).  Scott :83(1982).  H. altilinea var. morrisiae V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 45:168(1938).  H inconfluens var. morrisiae (V.Poelln.) Bayer :121(1976).  H. habdomadis var. morrisiae (V.Poelln.) Bayer, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 32:18(1977).  Bayer :41(1982).  Type: Cape, Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp, Mrs Morris in Long 484.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (B&M): icon (B).

morrisiae: for Mrs G. Morris.

This is a bright, almost emerald-green, variety from around Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp.  It is known westward to south of Vanwyksdorp.  Greenish forms of the species also occur further west at Anysberg Pass and from southwest of the Anysberg.

Distribution: 3320 (Montagu): Touwsfontein (-CB), Bayer 5296 (NBG).  3321 (Ladismith): W. Vanwyksdorp (-CB), Bayer in KG568/71 (NBG); Bergplaas (-BC), Bayer in KG323/70 (NBG); Warmbron (-DB), Bayer 1621 (NBG).  3322 (Oudtshoorn): between Oudtshoorn and Mossel Bay (‑CA), J. Dekenah 197 (NBG); Rooikrans (-CA), Van Niekerk 521 (BOL); Volmoed (-CA), Bayer in KG109/74 (NBG); SW. Oudtshoorn (-CA), Smith 5782 (NBG), Taylor 11776 (PRE); Rooikoppies (-CB), Schnettler in KG334/71 (NBG); Hazenjacht (-CB), Bayer in KG120/71 (NBG); Kamanassie Dam (-CB), Bayer in KG151/72 (NBG); 8km S. Oudtshoorn (-CA), Bayer 2099 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Oudtshoorn, Taylor in NBG981/28 (BOL), Vlakteplaas, Frey (BOL).

  • Haworthia mucronata var. morrisiae JDV94/44 southeast of Vanwyksdorp. In the area it grows in close association with H. arachnoidea var. nigricans.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. morrisiae KG90/60 west of Oudtshoorn. The chestnut brown leaf tips are characteristic.

e. var. rycroftiana Bayer Bayer, JS.Afr. Bot. 47:795(1981).  Bayer :54(1975).  Type: CAPE‑3321 (Ladismith): Gouritz River between Van Wyksdorp and Herbertsdale (‑DC), Bayer 1701 (NBG).

1982 – The relationships of this species ( ie. H. rycroftiana) are enigmatic.  The locality in the Gouritz Valley supports the view that it is related to the H. turgida complex, especially in view of the reported occurrence of the latter species northwest of Calitzdorp.  However, the general facies of the plant and its occurrence north of the Langeberg mountains suggest a more probable affinity with H. unicolor or H. habdomadis.  H. unicolor is known at its nearest 10 km south of Van Wyksdorp where is grows with H. habdomadis var morrisiae.  H. rycroftiana is distinguished from both of these by its more ovate and turgid leaves.  It occurs at its only known locality on a steep slope where it is clump‑forming ‑ also reminiscent of H. turgida.  The locality and appearance of the plants suggests that this species is a link between the species of the South‑western Cape and the Little Karoo.  This particular area between Van Wyksdorp and Zebra, south of Oudtshoorn is entirely unknown as far as Haworthia is concerned and the middle Gouritz valley is also largely unexplored. (P.V. Bruyns has since collected from two populations in this latter area, which are patently the same species).

1999 – Cognizance must be taken of H. integra V. Poelln. as discussed and explored by Scott.  This also helps to explain a population which has been distributed as a glabrous variant of var. habdomadis which occurs within the Gamkapoort.  References to H. turgida in the 1982 seem to be quite erroneous because that species does not have the translucent margins and keels to the leaves.  It also is not known north of the Langeberg mountains as suspected from records.  Also around Calitzdorp, var. integra may include spined forms.  There is, and will be, probable difficulty in separating these spined forms from H. arachnoidea var. nigricans and more attention to this problem is required.

Distribution: 3321 (Ladismith): 23km E. Ladismith (-AC), Bayer in KG77/71 (NBG); Kruisrivier (-BD), Stayner in KG857/60 (NBG); Vensterkrans, Algerynskraal (-CA), Laidler 376 (NBG); Muiskraal (-CC), Chisholm in NBG774/38 (NBG); Gamka East (-DA), Blackburn (BOL); On Gamka East road (-DA), Scott 1050 (PRE); Danielskraal (-DA), Bruyns 2219 (NBG); Waterkloof (-DA), Bruyns 2231 (NBG); Badspoort (-DB), Bruyns 3724 (BOL); Gouritz River between Van Wyksdorp and Herbertsdale (‑DC), Bayer 1701 (NBG).  3322 (Oudtshoorn): N. Oudtshoorn (-AC), Smith 5089, 5783 (NBG); Schoemanspoort (-AD), Smith 5085 (NBG), Bayer 171 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Barrydale, Venter 8 (BOL), Bolus in NBD696/35 (BOL); Riversdale, Ferguson (BOL); Riethuiskraal, Ferguson (BOL); Oudtshoorn, Peers (BOL).

  • Haworthia mucronata var. rycroftiana JDV87/98 Waterkloof, Rietvlei. The leaves are smooth and thicker than in the typical variety. The acuminate leaf tip is also shorter.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. rycroftiana JDV90/62 Gouritz River Gorge, type locality for this variety.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. rycroftiana JDV91/6 Gamkakloof. A smaller form with shortis leaves and resembling a glabrous form of var. habdomadis.
  • Haworthia mucronata var. rycroftiana JDV92/57 Gamka East. This is one of the several populations where H. mucronata and H. arachnoidea are confounded.

Haworthia Revisited – 24. Haworthia mutica

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24. Haworthia mutica Haw. Revis :55(1821).  Scott, Aloe 11:4(1973).  Bayer :139(1976).  Bayer, Excelsa 8:50(1978).  Bayer :48(1982).  Scott :118(1985).  Type: Cape.  Not preserved.  Lectotype: icon (K).  Epitype (B&M): Bredasdorp to Swellendam, Soesriver, Bayer in KG623/69 (NBG):  H. otzenii Smith, JS.Afr. Bot. 11:72(1945).  Type: CAPE‑3419 (Caledon): Bredasdorp (-BD), Otzen 6 in Smith 5478 (NBG).

mutica: without a point.

Rosette stemless. non-proliferous, 6-8cm φ.  Leaves 12-15, retused, blunt-tipped, brownish-green, in habitat developing purplish cloudiness, barely pellucid with several longitudinal lines.  Inflorescence simple, to 20cm.  Flowers white with brownish veins.

1982 – The name mutica is suggested by the leaf tips which are rounded.  This species is very similar to H. retusa and if the two species do meet it can be expected to be in the area between Heidelberg and the lower Breede River.  H. mutica is only known west of the Breede River south of Swellendam, but it occurs at one locality north of the river at Drew.  In the field the venation and leaf colour is slightly purplish.  It is interesting to note that it is very often difficult to distinguish between smooth forms of H. pygmaea and H. mutica.  In one comparison of the flowers the only difference that could be detected was that the bracts were purplish‑veined in H. mutica as opposed to greenish in H. pygmaea.  H. mutica leads a rather precarious existence in an intensively farmed area, and survives on rocky shale ridges.  It covers nearly the same distribution range as H. mirabilis but the two species never appear to grow in the same habitats.  H. mutica is generally more glaucous than H. retusa and has a characteristic bluish‑brown coloration.

1999 – A relationship has always been sought between this species and H. retusa.  However, a more appropriate solution lies in the recognition that H. retusa should either be enlarged to encompass H. turgida and all its variants, or regarded as a separate species with no interaction with others in terms of its range or distribution – a difficult decision.

a. var. mutica.
This is the element west of the Breede river.  It was once known from northwest of Drew (north of the Breede River) from where it was collected and sold in pre-war times.  That locality has since been taken in by wheat fields, and a single solitary clone survives in the Karoo Botanic garden collection.  Leaves of this clone have been propagated.  It is remarkable for the white opacity which has subsequently developed in the leaves, and which is also appearing in offsets of the original clone.

Distribution: 3320 (Montagu): N. Drew (-CC), Smith 5614 (NBG); Drew (-CC), Fouche in PRE 34916.  3419 (Caledon): E. Riviersonderend (-BB), Otzen 6 in Smith 5478 (NBG); 10km E. Riviersonderend (-BB), Smith 3270, 3460, 3970, 5478 (NBG), Bayer 4479 (NBG); Klipdale (-DB), (NBG).  3420 (Bredasdorp): E. Stormsvlei (-AA), Smith 3249 (NBG); Noukloof (-AA), Bruyns (NBG); Rietfontein (-AA), Bayer 2526 (NBG); Crodini (-AB), Bayer (NBG); Soesriver (-AC), Bayer 4473, in KG623/69 (NBG); Kykoedie (-AC), Bayer in KG83/77 (NBG); N. Kykoedie (-AC), Bayer in KG327/71 (NBG); Badjieskraal (-AC), Bayer in KG85/72 (NBG); Haarwegskloof (-AD) Venter 2 (NBG).

Inadequately located: ex hort, Malherbe, Smith 3430 (NBG); Caledon, Hurling & Neil (BOL); Bredasdorp, Theunissen (BOL).

  • Haworthia mutica var. mutica JDV92/64 Drew. The only clone known to have survived avaricious collecting. Collected in 1970, it has developed a curious and progressive white cloudiness in the leaves – also observed, albeit rarely in other collections.
  • Haworthia mutica var. mutica JDV85/17 northeast of Bredasdorp. This species flowers earlier than H. retusa.
  • Haworthia mutica var. mutica JDV85/17 northeast of Bredasdorp. In the field the plants have a purplish waxy bloom to the leaves.

b. var. nigra var. nov. 
Type: CAPE-3420 (Bredasdorp): Kransriviermond (-BB), Smith 5753 (NBG, Holo.).

nigra: black.

Differs from the type in its very dark coloration and its occurrence south and east of Heidelberg.  (A var. mutica colore perfuscato differt).

This variety from Kransriviermond has been known for a long time and was distributed as H. retusa.  It is very dark green, although this does depend on growing conditions as under softer light it may be quite green.  There are also populations, probably of this variety, just east of Heidelberg.

Distribution: 3420 (Bredasdorp): Kransriviermond (-BB), Smith 5753 (NBG); Heidelberg (-BB), Smith 5509 (NBG); E. Heidelberg (-BB), Smith 5755 (NBG); 2km W. Heidelberg (-BB), Smith 6196, 6567 (NBG); N. Heidelberg (-BB), Smith 5509 (PRE).

  • Haworthia mutica var. nigra JDV86/16 south of Heidelberg. Less wax-like and dark green.
  • Haworthia mutica var. nigra JDV90/1 east of Heidelberg. There are three such populations known which seem to link H. mutica to H. turgida and to H. retusa.

Haworthia Revisited – 25. Haworthia nortieri

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25. Haworthia nortieri Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 12:13(1946).  Bayer :141(1976).  Bayer :49(1982).  Scott :88(1985).  Type: Cape, Vanrhynsdorp, Smith 1676a (NBG):  H. nortieri var. montana idem. 16:6(1950).  Type: Cape, Clanwilliam, Smith 1678 (NBG):  H. nortieri var. giftbergensis G.G.Sm. ibid. 16:7 (1950).  Type: Cape, Vanrhynsdorp, Smith 7199 (NBG).

nortieri: for Dr. Nortier.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, 3-5cm φ.  Leaves 25-45, soft sub-erect, ovate-lanceolate to obovate, pale to purplish green, with translucent spots on the leaves, small spines on margins and keel.  Inflorescence slender, to 30cm.  Flowers greyish-white, yellowish in tube.

1982 – H. nortieri occurs in the area between Clanwilliam and Vanrhynsdorp, extending inland to the foot of Vanrhyns Pass and on top of the plateau of the northern Cedarberg mountains.  The var. globosiflora occurs in the dryer Botterkloof area and is distinguished by the flower having a globose tube while the leaves are shorter and broader.  However, the flowers are not always so inflated and plants in the Vanrhyns Pass area have normal flowers while being vegetatively similar to the var. globosiflora.  This is the basis for rejecting species status for the last-named.  H. nortieri occupies the mid‑western geographic locale for the genus.  The distribution southwards is not known and there is a big gap between this species at Pakhuis Pass (near Clanwilliam) and a form of H. archeri var. dimorpha in the Elandskloof area southeast of Citrusdal.  H. arachnoidea occurs to the north of Vanrhynsdorp and also to the north and far west of Vanrhyns Pass.  It does not, however, seem to appear in the Botterkloof area.  H. nortieri is distinguished largely by the opaque leaf surfaces with abrupt, ovoid, pellucid spots.  The flowers, and particularly the buds, are greyish in colour but the colour inside the tube is variable.

1999 – The range of H. nortieri has been extended considerably.  The reference to H. archeri var. dimorpha at Elandskloof is quite erroneous and simply arises from the difficulty in relating that collection to the nearest known species.  On the otherhand, the Elandskloof plants are only known to me from herbarium record and from two living plants collected by Drs Muller-Doblies.  These did not seem to unequivocally be H. nortieri.  P.V. Bruyns has collected H. nortieri from as far north as the Groenriver, to south as far as Kromriver in the Cedarberg.  The late Harry Hall also collected it in the northeastern Knersvlakte.  The most southerly collection is from near Opdieberg, north of Ceres.  These plants also resemble the var. globosiflora but the flowers are not globose.  At both extremes the plants tend to resemble H. globosiflora vegetatively .  The plants at Komkans tend to have globose florets, and this is also true of plants at Groenriver where the florets are short and squat.  The decision to include H. pehlemanniae within this species is also on account of the flower which is identical to that of var. globosiflora.  This is not only in shape, but in colour too.  Although the flowers may be the usual white with greenish veins, brownish-green flowers have been observed in both elements.  The reference in the original description to quadrantly as opposed to spirally arranged flowers defies plant growth principles.  The distribution of the two elements is complementary and gives the species as a whole an extraordinary cosmopolitan character.  The colour in the flowers of the typical variety can be remarkable and as if yellow paint had been daubed at the throat of the florets. Habitat ranges from the moist south slopes of the Cedarberg to the dry wastes of Namaqualand and the so-called Moordenaarskaroo.

a. var. nortieri
The typical variety occurs over a very wide area in the Table Mountain sandstones from south-east of Citrusdal to south-west of Nieuwoudtville.  In addition it extends out into the Namaqualand lowlands, into very arid conditions.  It is thus a very variable taxon in its own right.

Distribution: 3017 (Hondeklipbaai): Groenriver (-DD), Bruyns 6728 (NBG).  3118(Vanrhynsdorp): Komkans (-AA), Bruyns 6146 (NBG); Klipdrif (-BB), Hall 3390 (NBG); Gifberg (-DA), Smith 7199 (BOL,NBG), Thomas in NBG626/69; Steenkampskop (-DB), Bruyns 6167 (NBG); Kobe Pass (-DB), Bruyns 6170 (NBG); Die Kom (-DC), Bayer in KG329/72 (NBG); Doornriver (-DC), Smith 1676 (NBG), Leighton (BOL); W. Doornriver (-DC), Bayer 3637 (NBG); SE. Klawer (-DC), Leipoldt 4146 (BOL), Herre in STE6695 (BOL); E. Doornriver (-DD), Smith 1676a (BOL), Smith 6212 (BOL, NBG), Esterhuysen 6008 (BOL).  3119 (Calvinia): Uitkomst (-AC), Barker 10753 (NBG); Vanrhyns Pass (-AC), Smith 6211 (NBG), Hall in NBG656/60 (NBG), Ross-Frames in NBG1200/26 (BOL).  3218 (Clanwilliam): S. Clanwilliam (-BD), Van Jaarsveld 8153 (NBG).  3219 (Wuppertal): Pakhuis Pass (-AA), Smith 1678 (NBG), ex hort Whitehill NBG68397; Waboomsriver (-AC), Henderson 2212 (NBG); Diamond Drift (-AC), Leipoldt 3107 (BOL); N. Dwarsrivier (-AC), Bruyns in Bayer 6505 (NBG); E. Dwarsriver (-AD), Bruyns in Bayer 6506 (NBG); Heksberge (-CA), Smith 6116 (NBG), Muller-Doblies 79/015 (NBG), E. Elandskloof (-CA), Esterhuysen 3987 (BOL); Sandfontein (-CB), Esterhuysen 27199a (BOL); Cedarberg (-CB), Wagener in NBG11/43 (NBG); Nuwerus (-CB), Bruyns (NBG).  3319(Worcester): NW. Ceres (-AB), Aslander 645 (NBG).

  • Haworthia nortieri var. nortieri JDV93/61 Pakhuis Pass. Ocuring as a solitary specimen, as seen here, or in clusters.
  • Haworthia nortieri var. nortieri PVB6728 Groenriver. In this collection the flowers are very short but not globose.
  • Haworthia nortieri var. nortieri JDV88/34 Klawer. A variety of the Western Cape sandstones – not penetrated by H. Arachnoidea.
  • Haworthia nortieri var. nortieri JDV88/34 Klawer. The flowers are normal for the subgenus, but usually have a bright yellow throat.

b. var. globosiflora (Smith) Bayer
:119(1976).  Bayer 49(1982).  H. globosiflora Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 16:11(1950).  Scott :87(1985).  Type: CAPE‑3119 (Calvinia): Doornbosch, N. Doorn River Bridge (‑CD), Smith 7198 (NBG).

globosiflora: rounded flowers.

This variety is not known from only the Doornbosch area south of Botterkloof, which is also relatively unexplored.  It has also been collected from as far east as the Ouberg Pass, southwest of Sutherland.  The illustration in Scott (:88, 1985) is not of this variety at all and is probably of H. decipiens.

Distribution: 3119 (Calvinia): Doornbosch, (‑CD), Smith 7198 (NBG); 50km N. Clanwilliam (-CD), Dyer 3750 (PRE); Botterkloof (-CD), Hall in NBG68414, Villet (BOL); Boontjiesrivier, Kansekraal (-CD), Leipoldt 4119 (BOL).  3220 (Sutherland): Ouberg Pass (-AC), Venter (NBG).

  • Haworthia nortieri var. globosiflora JDV93/62 Botterkloof northwest of Clanwilliam. Typically with globose flowers, there are identical forms with ordinary flowers. In the winter they often “relax” so far that they lie flat on the soil.
  • Haworthia nortieri var. globosiflora JDV88/40 Ouberg Pass.This variety is in more karoid dry vegetation.

c. var. pehlemanniae (Scott) Bayer comb. nov. 
H. pehlemanniae Scott, Cact.Succ.J.(U.S.) 54:70(1982).  Scott :79(1085).  Type: CAPE-3320 (Laingsburg): 5km W. of Laingsburg (-BB), Scott 7450 (PRE).

pehlemanniae: for Inge Pehlemann.

Since first collected, this variety has been found at several other localities in the close vicinity of Laingsburg, but also further north in the Moordenaarskaroo and north of Matjesfontein.  It differs from the species in the absence of the translucent spots on the leaf, and the vegetative similarity to H. arachnoidea in the same area is deceptive.  It does appear to favour shales in relatively exposed situations as opposed to H. arachnoidea which generally prefers cooler south slopes. The two taxa grow in very close association.

Distribution: 3221 (Merweville): Klipfontein, N. Laingsburg (-CC), Aslander 801 (NBG).  3320(Montagu): 5km SW. Laingsburg (-BB), Scott 7450 (PRE), Bayer 3906 (NBG); N. Laingsburg (-BB), Venter (NBG).

Inadequately located: Matjiesfontein, Pillans 830 (BOL).

  • Haworthia nortieri var. pehlemanniae JDV91/47 north of Laingsburg. Southwest of Laingsburg it occurs in among small sandstone boulders, whereas elsewhere it is in shales.
  • Haworthia nortieri var. pehlemanniae JDV87/204 southwest of Laingsburg. Although its leaves lack the transclucent spots of var. globosiflora, the flowers are identical.
  • Haworthia nortieri var. pehlemanniae JDV91/47 north of Laingsburg. Probably overlooked because of its similarity to H. arachnoidea.

Haworthia Revisited – 26. Haworthia outeniquensis

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26. Haworthia outeniquensis Bayer spec. nov.  Type: CAPE-3322 (Oudtshoorn): Moerasriver (-CC), Venter, Marx & Kent 94/61 (NBG, Holo.).

The form of this species is similar to that of H. monticola, but the difference is that the leaves are pellucid to translucent and firmer in texture.  In brighter light the pellucid markings become more translucent and the opaque venation becomes reddish in colour.  The margins of the leaves are quite cartilaginous.  The distribution is complementary to that of H. monticola and H. chloracantha and one would have hoped that such populations strengthened the view of continuity between those two species.  However, this does not seem to be the case.  The two known populations are some considerable distance apart but in both cases are in exposed situations in sandstone in dry Fynbos.  Venter suggests that the flowers relate to H. magnifica.  (H. monticoleis affinis sed foliis solidioribus flavo-viridibus venatione rebella et marginibus carilagineis differt.)

Rosette acaulescent, 40-60mm diam., proliferous by off-set.  Stem up to 15mm diam.  Leaves erect to sub-erect, up to 60 X 6-10mm, 2-3mm thick, incurving tips with 2mm long end-awn, surfaces with pellucid anastomising dots, yellowish-green;  face convex with 4-5 prominent rows of conspicuous pellucid dots; back convex with 3-6 rows of pellucid dots, with sharper keel bearing spines to 1mm long; margins similarly toothed, margins and keel pellucid.  Peduncle simple, 1-1.5mm diam., 300-450mm long including raceme, brownish-green;  base smooth, 2-angled;  raceme with 7-15 flowers, 1-3 open; pedicels 4-6mm long, 1mm diam.,  sterile bracts 10-14, 8-10mm long.  Perianth white and yellowish-green, 15mm long, perigon sub-triangular, tepals slightly bilabiate, upper outer tepals slightly replicate;  tube yellowish-green within;  buds slightly biarcuate, with slightly flattened pink tips.  Flowering December.

Distribution: 3322 (Oudtshoorn): Moerasriver (-CC), Venter, Marx & Kent 94/61 (NBG), Bayer & Venter 6621 (NBG); Herold (-CD), Venter, Marx & Kent  94/92 (NBG).

  • Haworthia outeniquensis JDV94/62 Moerasrivier. Growing in dense clumps in sandstones.
  • Haworthia outeniquensis JDV94/62 Moerasrivier. Pale yellowish green with slightly cartilaginous leaf margins.
  • Haworthia outeniquensis JDV94/92 Herold. More robust at this locality, the plants are flourishing under a dense canopy of invasive pines.

Haworthia Revisited – 27. Haworthia parksiana

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27. Haworthia parksiana V.Poelln., Cactus J 5:34(1936). ibid., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 41:205(1937). ibid. 43:104(1938). ibid., Desert.Pl.Life 10:48(1938).  Bayer :143 (1976).  Bayer :50 (1982).  Scott :121 (1985).  Type: Cape, Great Brak River, Mrs Helm in PE Parks 636/32. Not preserved. Lectotype (B&M). icon (B).

parksiana: in honour of ‘Mrs Parks’.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, 3-4cm φ.  Leaves 25-35, 1,5-3cm long, blackish-green, sharply recurved, minutely tubercled, tip barely pointed.  Inflorescence simple, slender, to 20cm.  Flowers few, narrow, whitish with dull greenish venation.

1982 – H. parksiana acquired its name in a very odd fashion. Von Poellnitz received the plants from F.R. Long under a Port Elizabeth Parks and Recreation Department collecting number ‘Parks 636/32’.  Long had in turn received the plants from Mrs Helm of Great Brak.  Von Poellnitz in error attributed the collection to a ‘Mrs Parks’ and hence the name.  It is a very distinctive and very small dark species occurring very locally in Mossel Bay and the Great Brak area.  Rather than having the flattened retused end area of the typical ‘retused’ species, the leaves are recurved at the ends.  The flower buds are also round‑tipped at the end.  The most obvious relationship that H. parksiana has with other species is with H. floribunda, although these two species are separated by the Gouritz River valley.  H. parksiana, apart from being the smallest species, is also possibly the rarest and occurs only in very small numbers in the wild.  It grows completely under the protection of small karroid shrubs, well hidden in the fallen leaf debris or among moss and lichen.  The Mossel Bay area receives rain throughout the year but H. parksiana is particular about not having too much water.  Offsetting does occur but growth is very slow.

1999 – The species is known to me from 3 localities.  One of these is within the township of Great Brak, the other is on a rocky spur jutting out into a district road, and the third is on the very edge of a wheat field.  Its continued existence thus seems to be fairly precarious.  The relationship is with H. floribunda which is known (in terms of its probable or possible relation to H. chloracantha) at its most eastward, north of Albertinia.  That population apparently includes forms which are comparable with H. parksiana.  J.D. Venter cites the case where he has grown field collected seed of H. magnifica from south of Riversdale and observed parksiana-like plants among the offspring.  This is what should be expected in terms of the reciprocity of forms, and also in terms of a ‘chaos’-driven speciation theory.  Otherwise the species is readily recognisable and a relief from the contorted synonymies of other species.

Distribution: 3422 (Mossel Bay): Dumbie Dykes (-AA), Bayer 157 (NBG); Great Brak (-AA), James in NBG8106/45 (BOL), de Wildt (BOL), Smith 2936 (NBG); Botteliersberg (-AA), Bayer (NBG).

  • Haworthia parksiana JDV94/2 Great Brak. There is not much variation in this species but there is a reason to speculate continuity with H. floribunda.
  • Haworthia parksiana JDV96/87 Little Brak. This was a dense population among lichens on a small rock outcrop.
  • Haworthia parksiana JDV94/2 Great Brak. Can cluster profusely, yet still be very cryptic under dry conditions.

Haworthia Revisited – 28. Haworthia pubescens

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28. Haworthia pubescens Bayer, JS.Afr.Bot. 38:129(1973).  Bayer :147(1976).  Bayer :50(1982).  Type: CAPE‑3319 (Worcester): Sandberg Hills (‑CB), Bayer 163 (NBG).

pubescens: with many short hairs.

Rosette stemless, seldom proliferous, to 4cm φ.  Leaves 20-35, short incurved, opaque grey-green, covered with minute spines.  Inflorescence simple, to 20cm.  Flowers 10-15, with upper lobes flared, white with pinkish venation.

1982 – H. pubescens has the same growth form as H. herbacea but it is smaller and seldom exceeds 30mm in diameter.  The incurved leaves are dark grey‑green and finely pubescent.  The flowers are quite unlike those of H. magnifica to which it may have been related, as the buds are long and slender.  Also the upper perianth lobes are widespread as in H. herbacea.  It grows in very close association with H. herbacea and flowers in November/December ‑ after H. herbacea and before H. magnifica.  The distribution is extremely limited and only occurs on two low quartzitic hills east of the locality for H. maculata.  It appears to be represented again about 15 km south by a form which is less pubescent and with more turgid leaves.  This latter form at Lemoenpoort is in a quartzitic ridge again near H. herbacea, and it resembles H. maculata in the relative proportions of its leaves.  H. maculata occurs in a more recognisable form about 5 km to the west at Moddergat, at a far southern locality for the species.

1999 – The geographic scale of species and their distribution ranges changes from the summer rainfall areas of the country to the southwestern winter rainfall area. H. pubescens probably has to be seen in that context. There seems to be little doubt that it is filling the space of H. maraisii, but that could also be mooted for H. maculata. The former species is the most probable relative as there are growth forms with the same leaf texture, and rosette shape near to Robertson. However, H. maraisii occurs in its typical form very close to Lemoenpoort at Trappieskraalkloof, just to the east.  G.J. Payne did inform me that he had collected a small dark species just above the Brandvlei Prison and this would probably fall into this context if it is re-collected.

a. var. pubescens.

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): Sandberg Hills (‑CB), Bayer 163 (NBG)

Haworthia pubescens var. pubescens JDV84/7 south of Worcester. Very seldom growing in exposed situations.
Haworthia pubescens var. pubescens JDV84/7 south of Worcester. An elegant localized species with affinities with H. maraisii. Apart from the growth form it also flowers in late spring and has a flower more similar to H. herbacea.

b. var. livida var.nov. 
Type: CAPE-3319(Worcester): S. Lemoenpoort (-CD), Bayer 1128 (NBG, Holo.).

livida: bluish-grey.

Differs from the typical variety in being less pubescent, with slightly broader and fewer leaves, and partly with pellucid spots on the leaves.  (A var. pubescens foliis latioribus minus pubescentibus cum maculis pellucidis differt).

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): S. Lemoenpoort (-CD), Bayer 1128 (NBG).

Haworthia pubescens var. livida JDV88/31 Lemoenpoort. Close examination suggests similarities with species as unlikely as H. marumiana.
Haworthia pubescens var. livida JDV88/31 Lemoenpoort, south of Worcester. Broader leaves and sparsely pubescent.

[ed.] Bayer now considers var. livida as H. maculata var. livida

H. maculata var. livida (M. B. Bayer) M. B. Bayer (Haworthia Nomenclator, 10, 2012). Type: RSA, Western Cape (Bayer 1128 [NBG]). — Distr: RSA (Western Cape: Robertson Karoo: S of Worcester).
≡ Haworthia pubescens var. livida M. B. Bayer (1999) ≡ Haworthia maraisii var. livida (M. B. Bayer) M. Hayashi (2000) ≡ Haworthia intermedia var. livida (M. B. Bayer) J. Esterhuizen (2003); incl. Haworthia livida Breuer (2011) (nom. inval., ICN Art. 38.1a, 41.5).
Differs from var. maculata: Ros smaller; L less spotted.

Haworthia Revisited – 29. Haworthia pulchella

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29. Haworthia pulchella Bayer, JS.Afr.Bot. 39:232(1973).  Bayer :147(1976).  Bayer :51(1982).  Scott :63(1985).  Type: CAPE‑3320 (Montagu): Avondrust, Touws River (‑AC), Bayer 163 (NBG).

pulchella: very beautiful.

Rosette stemless, occasionally proliferous, to 5cm φ.  Leaves 30-45, incurved, coriaceous, block-patterned reticulation, dark- to emerald-green, with pronounced whitish spines on margins and keel.  Inflorescence simple, slender, to 30cm.  Flowers 15-20, white.

1982 – This is a small compact, dark‑green species.  The leaves are armed with pronounced white spines.  The distribution is from near Constable Station in the east, to west and south of Touws River.  Von Poellnitz recorded H. angustifolia from Touws River but it is difficult to believe that he was confusing this species with H. pulchella.  The leaves in the latter species are firmer, shorter and incurved.  H. pulchella is always in the shade and is also a winter‑growing species.  It is very seldom proliferous and is very slow growing.  The most likely relative is probably H. wittebergensis primarily on the basis of distribution and the moderately coriaceous texture of the leaves.

1999 – The range of this species has also been extended with new records from further to the east, at least as far as the Anysberg.  There is a will to associate this species with H. wittebergensis which I think overlooks the more probable affinity of that species to H. blackburniae on the basis of stem structure (granular and woody) and on the same amplexicaul leaf bases.  H. pulchella has a soft textured stem and the leaves are normally inserted on the stem as for, say, H. marumiana.  This comparison is made because Col Scott suggests the extension of H. pulchella up to the Nuweveld Mountains at Beaufort West where he suggests that it also occurs, although his distribution map does not show this.  That is incorrect as H. pulchella is with fair certainty restricted to the Touws River-Laingsburg-Hoekvandieberg triangle.  It is curious to see the resemblance which H. maraisii has to this species growing on identical Witteberg quartzites, together even with Protea sulphurea and other Dry Mountain Fynbos species, near Bonnievale.  The distribution of H. margaritifera supports this distant connection and it may be more reasonable to seek some affinity of H. pulchella in the south-west, rather than eastward.  The species is not restricted to shade and specimens have been seen growing in very exposed sites, although obviously not preferred.

a. var. pulchella

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): W. Touws River (-BD), Bayer 2582 (NBG). 3320 (Montagu): SE. Konstabel Stat. (-AB), Bayer 2093 (NBG); Avondrust, Touws River (‑AC), Bayer 163 (NBG); Spreeufontein (-AC), Bruyns 2425 (NBG); Nougaspoort (-CA), Bayer (NBG); SW. Anysberg (-CB), Bayer (NBG).

Haworthia pulchella var. pulchella JDV87/187 southeast of Touws River. Usually solitary, there is at least one population in which the plants form large clusters.
Haworthia pulchella var. pulchella JDV87/187 southeast of Touws River. It is not easy to grow, possibly because of its winter rainfall distribution.

b. var. globifera var. nov. 
Type: CAPE-3320 (Montagu): SE Anysberg Bruyns 7338 (BOL, Holo.).

globifera: forming globose clusters and rosettes.

Differs from the species in being glabrous, slightly stem forming and also forming clusters. (A var. pulchella foliis glabris differt.)

The typical variety is seldom proliferous and usually slowly so. The population southwest of the Anysberg is unusual in that the plants form compact clusters well protected on south facing slopes. The new variety requires less protection, forms larger, more raised clusters and there is some degree of stem formation with offsets above the base. The leaves are incurved to form very neat, tight clusters which suggested the name.

Distribution: 3319 (Montagu): SE Anysberg (-DB), Bruyns 7338 (BOL).

Haworthia pulchella var. globifera JDV97/147 Touwsberg. A glabrous, clustering and slightly stem forming variety. Unlike the typical variety, it occurs on very hot north slopes. The leaves are pale yellowish-green in winter, rich red in summer.

Haworthia Revisited – 30. Haworthia pygmaea

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30. Haworthia pygmaea V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 27:132 (1930).  ibid. 41:208 (1937).  ibid. 43:104 (1938).  ibid., Kakteenkunde 9:104 (1937).  Bayer :148:(1976).  Bayer :51 (1982).  Type: Cape, Great Brak, Mrs van der Bijl.  Not preserved.  Neotype (B&M)): E. Great Brak, Fourcade 4759 (BOL).  H. asperula Haw. p.p. sensu C.L.Scott :119 (1985).

pygmaea: dwarf.

Rosette stemless, slowly proliferous, 6-10cm φ.  Leaves 12-15, retused, round-tipped, surface pellucid with obscure raised tubercles, sometimes intensely papillose.  Inflorescence simple, robust, to 30cm.  Flowers white with greenish veins.

1982 – The name is not very apt as H. pygmaea is not much smaller than any of its near relatives.  In fact it is very much bigger than H. parksiana, with which it grows.  However, in the field some plants only develop 2‑3 leaves and perhaps von Poellnitz received some of these.  The species is characterised by scabrid or obscurely papillate to papillate leaf surfaces, the leaf end-areas are flattish and the leaf tips rounded.  Von Poellnitz ascribed plants from Great Brak to several other species too, and there is a close similarity with some forms of H. emelyae, H. retusa and H. mutica.  Geographical considerations weigh heavily in retaining H. pygmaea as a species separate from H. retusa, as it is apparently confined to the area between Mossel Bay and Great Brak.  H. retusa var. dekenahii occurs east of Albertinia, approaching Mossel Bay, and perhaps could be regarded as intermediate.  H.  turgida changes fairly dramatically as it moves eastward and it occurs very close to H. pygmaea.  Thus these two species may be related in the same way that H. turgida is related to H. retusa.

1999 – The previous discussion is inaccurate in several respects.  The forms of H. emelyae referred to were probably of H. bayeri.  The forms of H. retusa were those tending to H. magnifica.  H. retusa var. dekenahii east of Albertinia is of course actually the var. argenteo-maculosa of H. dekenahii Smith, which in this work is regarded as a variety of H. pygmaea.  The recognition of the relationship between H. retusa and H. turgida negates the possibility of a similar relationship between H. pygmaea and H. turgida.  The form that has received most of the attention is the very shiny papillate one.  It does not occur in any specified area or as a distinctive population and varietal rank is not warranted.  There is a difficulty in distinguishing H. pygmaea from H. mutica in cultivation but the former should be recognisable by the presence of the surface tubercles.  These are however, very much less conspicuous than in H. magnifica var. splendens.

a. var. pygmaea.
Confined to the Great Brak and Mossel Bay area.

Distribution: 3422 (Mossel Bay): Great Brak (‑AA), Bayer 2241 (NBG), Morris in PRE 34890, Luckhoff in NBG1871/24 (BOL); Near Great Brak (-AA), Luckhoff 6269 (PRE); E. Great Brak (-AA), Fourcade 4759 (BOL); W. Great Brak (-AA), Smith 2919 (NBG), Bayer 2287 (NBG); Dumbie Dykes (-AA), Bayer 2289 (NBG).

b. var. argenteo-maculosa (Smith) Bayer comb. nov. 
Bayer, Aloe 34: 6(1997), H. dekenahii var. argenteo-maculosa Smith, J.S.Afr.Bot. 11:74 (1945).  H. retusa forma argenteo-maculosa (Smith) Bayer :98(1976).  Type: CAPE‑3421 (Riversdale): between Gouritz Bridge and Mossel Bay (‑BB), S. Emett in NBG 68037.

argenteo-maculosa: silver spotted.

The locality for this variety could be at one of at least two localities known east of the Gouritz Bridge and the name is also applied to a population just west of Mossel Bay itself.  There is undoubtedly a very strong link with H. magnifica var. splendens which has more conspicuous surface tubercles.  The variety is separated from the typical species by the more conspicuous white flecking in the leaves and also by its relative smoothness.

Distribution: 3421 (Riversdale): between Gouritz Bridge and Mossel Bay (‑BB), S. Emett in NBG 68037; A few km E. Gouritz River Bridge (-BB), Smith 3959 (NBG,PRE); Cooper Siding (-BB), Bayer (NBG); Humor (-BB), Bayer (NBG). 3422 (Mossel Bay): W. Mossel Bay (-AA), Schoemann (NBG).

  • Haworthia pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa JDV93/65 west of Mossel Bay. The population reveals the connection to the H. magnifica complex.
  • Haworthia pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa JDV91/38 Humor. The white flecks can be very pronounced.
  • Haworthia pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa JDV91/38 Humor. The separation from H. magnifica may be dubious as it is only a question of the less conspicuous surface tubercles.
  • Haworthia pygmaea var. argenteo-maculosa JDV86/75 Cooper Siding. The similarity of the populations shown on this page makes it very difficult to classify them rationally.

Haworthia Revisited – 31. Haworthia reticulata

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31. Haworthia reticulata Haw., Syn.Pl.Succ. :94(1812).  Haw., Rev.Pl.Succ. :57(1921).  V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:233(1938).  Bayer, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 27:10(1972).  Bayer :150(1976).  Bayer :52(1982).  Aloe reticulata Haw., Trans.Linn.Soc. 7:9(1804).  A. arachnoidea var. reticulata (Haw.) Ker-Gawl., Curtis’ Bot.Mag. :t1314.  Type: Cape.  Not preserved.  Neotype: Icon. Curtis’ Bot.Mag. :t1314(1811):  Aloe pumilio Jacq., Hort. Schoenbr. 4:11(1804).  Type: icon, Hort. Schoenbr.:  H. reticulata var. acuminata idem. 43:93(1938).  Type: Cape, Robertson, G.J. Payne.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3319(Worcester): Kliphoogte, SW. Robertson (-DD), Smith 3986 (NBG):  H. hurlingii var. ambigua Triebn. et V.Poelln. idem. 43:93(1938).  Type: Cape, Montagu, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 906.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3319(Worcester): Wolfkloof, Robertson (-DD), Bayer 1543 (NBG):  H. guttata Uitew. in Desert Pl.Life 19:136(1947).  Type: Cape, Robertson to Bonnievale.  Not preserved.

reticulata: like a network.

Rosette proliferous, partially stemmed, to 8cm φ.  Leaves 25-40, firm sub-erect, incurved, lanceolate-acuminate, opaque with reticulate to mottled patterning, margins and keel frequently with short spines, reddening in sun.  Inflorescence simple, to 25cm.  Flowers large, white to pinkish, with arcuate buds with flattened tips.

1982 – H. reticulata is closely allied with H. herbacea.  It occurs between Worcester and Robertson generally north of the Breede River.  In the area southwest of Robertson it occurs also south of the river and it is sometimes difficult to determine if the species is H. reticulata or H. herbacea.  H. reticulata extends along the Breede River to about Drew and is not known further east.  At Bonnievale the plants have narrower more denticulate leaves.  The distinction between this species and H. herbacea is that it is generally more glabrous, more proliferous and grows higher above the ground.  The flowers are usually pinkish as opposed to beige in H. herbacea.  The var. hurlingii occurs between Robertson and Bonnievale and has short obtuse leaves.  It is small and seldom exceeds 20‑30mm in diameter.  H. reticulata is very much bigger in the lower Hex River Valley where it hybridises with H. herbacea.  Nearby, the two species are again adjacent but do not hybridise.  H. reticulata is very much more variable than H. herbacea and it is possible to see an affinity with H. turgida ‑ especially with the Swellendam and Bredasdorp populations of that species.  Deeply spotted forms of H. reticulata occur in the Eilandia area southwest of Robertson, and it is probable that Uitewaal’s H. guttata was a form of H. reticulata after all.

1999 – This species is now well-known and is very common in the Worcester-Robertson area.  Von Poellnitz three times seemed to confuse specimens from the Eastern Cape with this species.  He described H. haageana in 1930 and in 1937 the var. subreticulata. In the first case with H. haageana, it is certain that the origin was just incorrectly cited as Grahamstown.  Regarding H. haageana var. subreticulata he may in fact have had a plant which did not belong with H. reticulata at all, although he also later conceded that perhaps the cited origin at Grahamstown was perhaps incorrect.  In the case of H. reticulata the flower should always be diagnostic.  The species does vary considerably over its range and there have been several varieties described to cover this.  The varieties upheld here should be seen as a communication about variation as a process of revision, rather than expressing an absolute division of the species.  Ultimately communication may only be effective at the level of geographic locality and origin.

a.  var. reticulata.
There are several populations which are very close in appearance to H. herbacea and the difference is usually that the latter species does not readily form dense clumps and the flower is more buff-coloured.  The close relationship of the two species is a very good indication of how the species in the genus generally can relate to one another.  Each population is fairly distinctive and the varieties formalised here are only a sample of this quite extensive variation, which is often associated with the intergradation with H. herbacea.

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): 24km NE. Worcester (-DA), Bayliss 2198 (PRE); Keeromskloof (-DA), Bayer in KG662/69 (NBG); Buitenstekloof (-DB), Bayer (NBG); Rooikleigat (-DC), Bayer 1438 (NBG); Ribbokkop (-DC), Bayer 160 (NBG); S. Gemsbokkop (-DC), Bayer 1539 (NBG); Dublin (-DC), Bayer (NBG); Rooiberg (-DC), Bayer in KG175/70, in KG90/76 (NBG); Kliphoogte, SW. Robertson (-DD), Smith 3986 (NBG); Wolfkloof, Robertson (-DD), Smith 3983 (NBG), Bayer 1543 (NBG, PRE), Bayer 2187, 4665 (NBG); Olifantshoogte (-DD), Hurling & Neil (BOL).

Inadequately located: ex hort, Rosch & LeRoux 596 (PRE); Hurling & Neil in BOL24592, van der Merwe 172 (BOL)

  • Haworthia reticulata var. reticulata JDV86/107 Buitenstekloof. Occurs in very large clusters on a dolomitic outcrop. H. intermedia V. Poelln. was in the earlier Handbook mistakenly believed to have referred to this population.

b. var. attenuata var. nov. 
Type: CAPE-3320 (Montagu): 2km S. Bonnievale, Smith 3979 (NBG, Holo.).

attenuata: with leaves narrowing to a point.

Differs from the species in having longer, more slender leaves.  (A var. reticulata foliis longioribus gracilioribusque differt).

Although there is a plethora of names already applied to variants of the species, this variety is described to emphasise the southeastern range of the species in the Bonnievale/Drew area.  The plants have more attenuate leaves and they are also more robustly spined.  Curiously there is a resemblance to H. variegata var. modesta, particularly in those clones with relatively flat unmarked upper leaf surfaces and weak spination.

Distribution: 3320 (Montagu): 2km S. Bonnievale (-CC), Smith 3979 (NBG); Bonnievale (-CC), J. Smith 6283 (PRE), van der Merwe (BOL); Angora (-CC), Hurling & Neil (BOL); 5km SE. Bonnievale (-CC), Bayer 4665 (NBG).

  • Haworthia reticulata var. attenuata JDV90/28 south of Bonnieville. The marginal spines are quite pronounced in this variety.
  • Haworthia reticulata var. attenuata JDV91/36 southwest of Bonnieville. Here the plants have less attenuate leaves than further eastward.

c. var. hurlingii (V.Poelln.) Bayer
:52(1982).  H. hurlingii V.Poelln., Cactus J 5:34(1936).  V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 41:202(1937).  V.Poelln. Cactus J 6:19(1937).  V.Poelln., Desert Pl.Life 10:125(1938).  Type: Cape, from Bonnievale, Mr Hurling, Stellenbosch. Not preserved.  Neotype (B&M): icon (B).

hurlingii: for Hurling.

Von Poellnitz suggests that this variety grows deeply buried in the ground.  This is not true for the species nor for this variety, which forms small clumps.  It is characterised by its small obtuse leaves and compact shape.  There are other populations in which the individual rosettes are even smaller and fairly densely spined e.g. Bosluiskloof, southwest of Robertson.

Distribution: 3320(Montagu): Near Bonnievale (‑CC), Smith 3445 (NBG); 18km E. Bonnievale (-CC), Fouche 64 (PRE); Bonnievale (-CC), Hurling & Neil 6283b (BOL,PRE), Hurling & Neil in NBG2341/35, Smith 3442 (NBG); Goudmyn (-CC), Bayer 4659, in KG89/76 (NBG),  (NBG); 7km W. Bonnievale (-CC), Smith 3257, 3981 (NBG).

Inadequately located: ex hort Malherbe in NBG482/42, Marais in NBG1241/36, Smith 3274, 3893 (NBG).

  • Haworthia reticulata var. hurlingii JDV87/207 southwest of Robertson. This is the type locality for H. hurlingii var. ambigua which is regarded here as a variant of the typical variety.
  • Haworthia reticulata var. hurlingii JDV87/191 west of Bonnievale. There is a second population further to the west.
  • Haworthia reticulata var. hurlingii JDV87/191 west of Bonnievale. Much smaller rosettes.

d. var. subregularis (Bak.) Bayer comb. nov. 
H. subregularis Baker, Saund.Ref.Bot. 4:t232(1870).  Baker, J Linn.Soc.Bot. 18:391(1880).  Baker, Fl.Cap. 6:212(1896).  V.Poelln. Cactus J 5:236(1936).  Type: Cape without locality, Copper.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (designated here): Icon. Saund.Ref.Bot. :t232:  H. haageana V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 28:104(1930).  Type: Cape, imported from Grahamstown.  Not preserved:  H. haageana var. subreticulata V.Poelln., Cact. J 5:37(1937).  idem. Cact.J 6:18(1938).  idem. Feddes Rep.Spec.Nov. 44:232(1938).  Type: Cape, Grahamstown, Mrs Ferguson.  Not preserved.

subregularis: almost regular.

In the 1982 edition, mention was made of the larger size of plants from the ‘lower’ Hex River Valley.  The reference is specifically to the DeWet area northeast of Worcester where the plants are indeed large, with often spreading leaves as in the Ref.Bot. illustration.  Baker names the plant for the regularity of the perianth lobes but he is undoubtedly using the same free licence that other botanists have used in comparing flowers of Haworthia with Astroloba, or indeed the flowers of the Haworthia subgenera.  In my opinion he noticed the distinctiveness of the flower respective to others of the subgenus without true cognition of what the differences really were.

Distribution: 3319 (Worcester): De Wet (-DA), Van Breda 223 (PRE), Malherbe in NBG478/42, Barker 516 (NBG), Hurling & Neil in NBG542/35, Stayner (NBG), Smith 3232, 3443 (NBG), Peers (BOL); Hex River Pass (-DA), Barker 7455 (NBG); Boskloof (-DA), Bayer in KG324/71 (NBG); Tweefontein (-DA), Smith 7387 (NBG).

Inadequately located : ex Whitehill, NBG68287, Venter in NBG142/39, Venter 2 (BOL), Meiring in NBG 4538/14 (BOL), Smith 3242, 3353, 5091, 5157, 7269 (NBG).

H. reticulata 145909
H. reticulata 61932
Haworthia reticulata (Haw.) Haw.
[as Aloe reticulata Haw.]
Loddiges, C., The botanical cabinet,
vol. 14: t. 1354 (1827)		Haworthia reticulata (Haw.) Haw.
[as Aloe pumilio Jacq.]
Jacquin, N.J. von, Plantarum rariorum
horti caesarei Schoenbrunnensis
descriptiones et icones,
vol. 4: t. 421 (1804)

Haworthia Revisited – 32. Haworthia retusa

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32. Haworthia retusa (L.) Duval, Pl.Succ.Hort.Alenc. :7(1809).  Haw., Syn.Pl.Succ. :95(1812).  Bayer :150(1976).  Bayer in Excelsa 8:46(1979).  Bayer :53(1982). pp Scott :112(1986).  Aloe retusa L. Sp.Pl. :322(1753).  Haw., Trans.Linn.Soc. 7:9(1804).  Type: icon, 2:t6 Commelin, Hort.Amstel.(1701):  H. foucheii V.Poelln., Succulenta 22:28(1940).  Type: Cape, Riversdale district, Grootvlei, Fouche.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): CAPE-3421(Riversdale): Near Riversdale, Grootvlei (-AB), Dekenah 212 (NBG):  H. retusa var. multilineata Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 12:3(1946).  H. multilineata (Smith) Scott :135(1985).  Type: CAPE-3421(Riversdale): 3km N. Riversdale, J. Dekenah 83 in Smith 5383 (NBG):  H. retusa var. solitaria Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 12:5(1946).  H. solitaria (Smith) Scott, Aloe 11:37(1973).  Type (designated here): CAPE-3421(Riversdale): along Corrente River, 10km N Riversdale, Dekenah 5 in Smith 5373 (NBG):  H. retusa var. densiflora Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 12:7(1946).  Type: CAPE-3421(Riversdale): Riversdale district, Venter 106 in Smith 5056 (NBG):  H. geraldii Scott, JS.Afr.Bot. 31:123(1965).  Scott, Aloe 11:22(1973).  Scott :132(1985).  Type: CAPE-3421(Riversdale): 5km east of Riversdale, Scott 72 (PRE).3

retusa: with leaf-tips bent back thumb-like.

Rosette stemless, slowly or seldom proliferous, to 12cm φ.  Leaves 10-15, turgid, rigid, with pronounced retused end-area, pointed tips, variously lined and windowed.  Without surface spination and usually without spination on margins and keel.  Colours brownish or green and seldom purpling.  Inflorescence simple, robust, to 30cm.  Flowers compacted on inflorescence, white with greenish-brown veins.

1982 – H. retusa is very closely associated with H. turgida, and an eventual re-evaluation of this association could lead to a total upheaval of species concepts in this group of haworthias.  H. retusa is taken to be an assemblage of forms in the Heidelberg and Riversdale areas, with clearly defined end areas, and points, to the leaves.  The various forms may or may not be proliferous, for example the var. solitaria was largely solitary, whereas the form described as H. geraldii is very proliferous.  The forms vary in cultivation and both dark and light green forms may occur.  The darker forms may have some relationship to H. magnifica, and the light forms to H. turgida.  The species is not well known in the area between Heidelberg and the Breede River and hence it is not known whether or not H. mutica and H. retusa intergrade.  H. mutica may simply be a blunt‑leaved form of H. retusa. The var. dekenahii from Albertinia is now thought to be represented by several populations in which plants have leaves very silver‑spotted ‑ a phenomenon which occurs in H. turgida too.  This variety may eventually be shown to link  H. retusa and H. pygmaea.  There is still an apparent break in the distribution of these two species between Mossel Bay and Albertinia.  The var. acuminata tends to be darker green and the leaves are very acuminate.  It occurs in the south‑east of the distribution range of the species and may also be expected in the area southwest of Albertinia ‑ still unexplored.

1999 – This revised treatment fulfils the predictions of 1982 amid the realisation that the views expressed there are correct, but stopping short of uniting H. retusa with H. turgida.  H. longebracteata Smith is now here regarded as a variant of that ubiquitous species and strictly H. geraldii Scott should be treated similarly.  However, the key issue is that H. retusa, as perceived here, is the robust, generally solitary forms which occur only in the Riversdale area.  Scott’s treatment is rather fortuitous in that he typifies the name in the same way, but applies it to the smaller clump-forming elements which comprise H turgida.  This is evident from his synonymy but totally compromised in his discussion where:- 1. he says it is restricted to one locality at Riversdale and two to three in the Little Karoo, and 2. the distribution map where localities at Little Brak and at Tradouw pass seem to be indicated.  Breuer and Metzing’s argument for the creation of an epitype, and also their choice, is also unfortunate.  The Commelin illustration could hardly be more distinctive and apart from Col Scott who muddled H. retusa and H. turgida, there has never ever been any sign of doubt about its application.  Furthermore, they select a specimen from the source of H. fouche.  The Commelin, illustration depicts the acute leaf-tips of the species very well and there is little chance of confusion with H. mutica.

In the species concept for the genus, co-occurrence and consequent interaction, or lack thereof, are criteria for recognising species.  In the field it has become obvious that the interaction between species revolves around H. turgida as a main role-player and not H. retusa.  There is no interaction between the latter two named elements as they do not co-occur. The three species recognised by Scott viz. geraldii, fouchei and multilineata give a very good impression of the variation of this one species in the Riversdale area.  The var. solitaria may represent interaction with H. magnifica, and the vars. acuminata and dekenahii are both transferred to that species.  H. dekenahii var. argenteo-maculosa is treated as a variety of H. pygmaea.  The problem plants around Heidelberg are associated with H. mutica.

Distribution: 3421 (Riversdale): 8km W. Riversdale (-AA), Smith 5443 (NBG); Along Corrente River, 10km NW. Riversdale (-AA), Dekenah 5 in Smith 5373 (NBG), Dekenah in KG305/71 (NBG); 4km N. Riversadel (-AA), Smith 5493 (NBG); SW. Riversdale (-AA), Smith 5387 (NBG); Near Riversdale, Grootvlei (-AB), Dekenah 212 (NBG), Smith 4955 (NBG), Fourcade 263 (NBG), Bayer in KG627/69 (NBG), Bohnen 9058 (NBG); Blinkbonnie (-AB), Smith 6086 (NBG), Venter in KG 156/71; Zeekoegat (-AB), Smith 6089 (NBG); Ferguson Drive (-AB), Smith 5380 (NBG, PRE); 3km N. Riversdale (-AB), J. Dekenah 83 in Smith 5383 (NBG), Smith 5374, 5488 (NBG, PRE), Smith 6796 (NBG); 5km E. Riversdale (-AB), Scott 72 (PRE), Smith 5377 (NBG); Vet River Road (-AB), Smith 5383, 5387 (PRE); 14km E. Riversdale (-AB), Smith 5749, 7320 (NBG); Bolus 2868 (PRE); Commonage (-AB), Smith 5377 (PRE); Dekenah 11 (PRE); Riversdale (-AB), Fouche in PRE 34869; 3km E., Grootvlei (-AB), J. Scott 1778 (PRE); 3km E. (-AB), J. Scott 93 (PRE);

Inadequately located: Riversdale district, Venter 106 in Smith 5056, Smith 3432, 3850, 3919, 3962, 5043, 5056, 5599 (NBG), Bolus 11390 (BOL), Helm in NBG1746/32, Malherbe in NBG399/40, ex hort, Wilman in PRE 34904.

Haworthia retusa JDV93/57 east of Riversdale. Some forms are reminiscent of H. magnifica.
Haworthia retusa JDV89/26 south of Riversdale. Others are enormous and range from brown to yellow.
Haworthia retusa JDV92/122 southeast of Riversdale. A motly assemblage where some are conspicuously veined.
Haworthia retusa JDV92/122 southeast of Riversdale. Some clones remain very compact.
Haworthia retusa JDV92/122 southeast of Riversdale. Despite the size there is an attempt at concealment.
Haworthia retusa JDV92/69 southeast of Riversdale. A cultivar referred to as ‘Jolly Green Giant’ probably originated in this area.
Haworthia retusa JDV87/5 east of Riversdale. The well known fa. geraldii, which is not accepted in this treatement although the name could be retained for practical and historical reasons.
Haworthia retusa JDV87/5 east of Riversdale. This form is only known from one small site where it forms massive clusters.
Haworthia retusa JDV92/125 east of Riversdale. This is the fa. fouchei, occuring a stone’s throw from geraldii but also not upheld for the same reasons.
Haworthia retusa JDV92/125 east of Riversdale. As with H. magnifica var. magnifica, there are two populations of this H. retusa variety on the same ridge. This is also the fa. fouchei, recognized by its erect leabes.
Haworthia retusa JDV92/125 east of Riversdale. The leaves are more erect and there is continuity down the Kafferkuilsrivier with H. turgida.

[ed. Bayer subsequently resurrected some of the varieties.]

H. retusa (Linné) Duval (Pl. Succ. Horto Alencon., 7, 1809). Type: [lecto — icono]: Commelin, Horti Med. Amstelod. 2: 11, t. 6, 1701. — Distr: RSA (Western Cape); Fynbos vegetation.

≡ Aloe retusa Linné (1753) ≡ Catevala retusa (Linné) Medikus (1786) ≡ Apicra retusa (Linné) Willdenow (1811) ( incorrect name, ICN Art. 11.4).

H. retusa var. longibracteata (G. G. Smith) M. B. Bayer (Haworthia Update Vol. 7, Part 4, 36, 2012). Type: RSA, Western Cape ( Dekenah 18 in Smith 5378 [NBG, PRE]). — Distr: RSA (Western Cape). I: Scott ( 1985: 127, as H. longibracteata).

≡ Haworthia longibracteata G. G. Smith (1945) ≡ Haworthia retusa fa. longibracteata (G. G. Smith) Pilbeam (1983) ≡ Haworthia turgida var. longibracteata (G. G. Smith) M. B. Bayer ( 1999).

Differs from var. retusa: L erect to suberect, ovate-lanceolate.

H. retusa var. nigra (M. B. Bayer) M. B. Bayer (Haworthia Update Vol. 7, Part 4, 36, 2012). Type: RSA, Western Cape ( Smith 5753 [NBG]). — Lit: Bayer ( 2004a); Bayer ( 2004c); Bayer ( 2005); all as H. mutica var. Distr: RSA (Western Cape: Heidelberg area).

≡ Haworthia mutica var. nigra M. B. Bayer ( 1999) ≡ Haworthia silviae var. nigra (M. B. Bayer) M. Hayashi (2000); incl. Haworthia chromutica M. Hayashi (2000) ( nom. inval., ICN Art. 39.1, 40.1); incl. Haworthia quimutica Breuer ( 2011) ( nom. inval., ICN Art. 38.1a).

Differs from var. retusa: Ros more proliferous; L greener and more translucent.

H. retusa var. retusa — Distr: RSA (Western Cape: Riversdale). I: Bayer ( 1982: Fig. 33a).

Incl. Haworthia fouchei Von Poellnitz (1940) ≡ Haworthia retusa fa. fouchei (Von Poellnitz) Pilbeam (1983) ≡ Haworthia retusa var. fouchei (Von Poellnitz) Breuer (2016); incl. Haworthia retusa var. densiflora G. G. Smith (1946); incl. Haworthia retusa var. multilineata G. G. Smith (1946) ≡ Haworthia retusa fa. multilineata (G. G. Smith) Pilbeam (1983) ≡ Haworthia multilineata (G. G. Smith) C. L. Scott (1985); incl. Haworthia retusa var. solitaria G. G. Smith (1946) ≡ Haworthia solitaria (G. G. Smith) C. L. Scott (1973); incl. Haworthia geraldii C. L. Scott (1965) ≡ Haworthia retusa fa. geraldii (C. L. Scott) Pilbeam (1983) ( nom. inval., ICN Art. 41.5); incl. Haworthia retusa var. quimutica Hayashi (2001); incl. Haworthia subretusa Breuer ( 2010) ( nom. inval., ICN Art. 36.1b, 38.1a).

Ros stemless, rarely slowly proliferating, to 12 cm ∅; L 10–15, turgid, rigid, with pronouncedly retuse end-areas, 8 × 2 cm, brownish or green and rarely with purplish hue, variously lined and windowed, surface and usually also margins and keel without spines or tubercles, tips pointed; Inf robust, to 30 cm; Fl 20–30, closely spaced, white with greenish-brown veins.

Possible hybridization with H. mirabilis is mentioned by Bayer ( 2012d).

H. retusa var. suberecta (Von Poellnitz) M. B. Bayer (Haworthia Update Vol. 7, Part 4, 36, 2012). Type [neo]: RSA, Western Cape ( Bayer s.n. in Karoo Garden 631/69 [NBG]). — Distr: RSA (Western Cape). I: Scott ( 1985: 126, as H. dekenahii).

≡ Haworthia turgida var. suberecta Von Poellnitz (1938) ≡ Haworthia turgida fa. suberecta (Von Poellnitz) Pilbeam (1983) ≡ Haworthia suberecta (Poellnitz) Breuer ( 2010); incl. Haworthia turgida var. subtuberculata Von Poellnitz (1938); incl. Haworthia turgida var. pallidifolia G. G. Smith (1946) ≡ Haworthia turgida fa. pallidifolia (G. G. Smith) Pilbeam (1983) ≡ Haworthia pallidifolia (G. G. Smith) M. Hayashi (2010) ≡ Haworthia suberecta var. pallidifolia (G. G. Smith) Breuer (2016); incl. Haworthia pseuda Breuer ( 2010) ( nom. inval., ICN Art. 36.1b, 38.1a); incl. Haworthia reflexa Breuer ( 2010) ( nom. inval., ICN Art. 36.1b, 38.1a); incl. Haworthia rodinii Breuer ( 2010) ( nom. inval., ICN Art. 36.1b, 38.1a).

Differs from var. retusa: L strongly mottled, tips slightly truncate and rounded.

H. retusa var. turgida (Haworth) M. B. Bayer (Haworthia Update Vol. 7, Part 4, 36, 2012). Type [neo]: RSA, Western Cape ( Bayer 2420 [NBG 132378]). — Distr: RSA (Western Cape). I: Bayer ( 1982: Fig. 40, as H. turgida).

≡ Haworthia turgida Haworth (1819) ≡ Aloe turgida (Haworth) Roemer & Schultes fil. (1829); incl. Haworthia laetevirens Haworth (1819) ≡ Aloe laetevirens (Haworth) Link (1822); incl. Haworthia caespitosa Von Poellnitz (1937) ≡ Haworthia turgida fa. caespitosa (Von Poellnitz) Pilbeam (1983); incl. Haworthia caespitosa fa. subplana Von Poellnitz (1938); incl. Haworthia caespitosa fa. subproliferans Von Poellnitz (1938).

Differs from var. turgida: Ros partially stemless, proliferous, 5–10 cm ∅; L 20–40, ovate-lanceolate, 4 × 1.2 cm, turgid, often as thick as broad, recurved or slightly retuse, margins and keel lightly spined.

 

H. retusa 138251
H retusa 122188
H retusa 62027
H retusa 7534
 Haworthia retusa (L.) Duval
Moninckx, J., Moninckx atlas, vol. 3: t. 7 (1682-1709)		 Haworthia retusa (L.) Duval
Commelin, Johannes, Horti medici amstelodamensis rariorum tam Orientalis, vol. 2: t. 6 (1701)		Haworthia retusa (L.) Duval
[as Aloe retusa L.]
Candolle, A.P. de, Redouté, P.J., Plantarum Historia Succulentarum, vol. 1: t. 45 (1799-1837) [P.J. Redouté]		Haworthia retusa (L.) Duval
[as Aloe retusa L.]
Botanical Magazine, vol. 13: t. 455 (1799) [S.T. Edwards]

Haworthia Revisited – 33. Haworthia semiviva

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33. Haworthia semiviva (V.Poelln.) Bayer :153(1976).  Bayer :54(1982).  Scott :89(1985).  H. bolusii var. semiviva V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:135(1938).  Type: Cape, Beaufort West, Marais in Triebn. 1080.  Not preserved. Lectotype (B&M)): icon (B).

semiviva: half alive.

Rosette stemless, seldom proliferous, 5-6cm φ.  Leaves 30-40, broad ovate, thin, incurved, translucent and usually necrotic at tips.  Inflorescence simple, 20-30cm.  Flowers white with green venation, broad across tube.

1982 – H. semiviva is not well‑known, but it occurs as far west as Middelpos and may skirt the northern margins of the Nuweveld mountains to appear again at and just south of Beaufort West.  Originally this species was described as a variety of H. bolusii but this is only a partly true reflection of the relationship as is borne out by the distribution.  H. semiviva is not known east of Beaufort West and there is thus a break in distribution between the two species.  Unlike H. bolusii, the tips of the leaves die well back so that the plants are protected by the whitened leaf ends as in H. lockwoodii.  In cultivation the leaf-tips are flattened and highly translucent; which is a tendency, as in H. lockwoodii, to the absence of any pigmentation at the ends of the leaves.  H. semiviva does not proliferate and is only occasionally found as a 2‑ or 3‑headed plant.  It is difficult and slow in cultivation.  Although also technically in the summer rainfall region, it is a winter‑growing species.  Like other species it also grows in the protection of small karoo shrubs in accumulated windblown sand and organic debris.

1999 – It appears that this species was first collected at the southeastern most part of its range as it is now well known from the Frazerburg, Sutherland, Victoria East area.  It may transpose to H. bolusii var. blackbeardiana in the far northwest which would become evident in the retention of live end-area to the leaves.  Although it is tempting to suggest an affinity with H. lockwoodii, there has been no evidence of populations which link them geographically, and neither do they share the bluish-green colour of the cooperi/bolusii/decipiens var. cyanea alliance.  Where the two species might be expected to meet in the central lower Karoo, one finds H. decipiens var. cyanea.

Distribution: 3023 (Britstown): Nooiensberg (-DD), Bruyns 6643 (BOL).  3120 (Williston): Sterkfontein (-CD), Bruyns 6294 (BOL); SE. Middelpos (-CD), Bayer (NBG); S. Williston (-DB), Bayer 5086 (NBG); S. Williston (-DC), Bayer 5096 (NBG); Lusernsvlei (-DC), Bruyns 4012 (BOL).  3121 (Frazerburg): Korfplaas (-CB), Bruyns 4877 (NBG).  3122 (Victoria West): Booiskraal (-DC), Bruyns 6676 (BOL).  3220 (Sutherland): E. Sutherland (-BD), Bruyns 3113 (NBG).  3221 (Frazerburg); Tafelberg (-AA), Bruyns 4801 (NBG); Aarfontein (-AD), Bruyns 6276a (BOL); Layton (-BB), Bruyns 1748 (NBG);.  3222 (Beaufort West): Near Beaufort West, E. Esterhuysen in NBG 68140 (NBG), Grant in KG206/74 (NBG); S. Beaufort West (-BC), Bayer 2406 (NBG); Karoo Park (-BC), Branch 41 (NBG); Stoltzhoek (-BC), Bruyns 3379 (BOL).

Inadequately located: Sunnyside, Esterhuysen (BOL).

  • Haworthia semiviva JDV93/47 north of Three Sisters. More like the typical form but the leaf tips are barely dry and white.
  • Haworthia semiviva JDV97/60 Beaufort West. The typical form has no keel to the leaves and the tips are dried white.
  • Haworthia semiviva JDV97/18 south of Victoria West. This is possibly a transition to H. bolusii var. blackbeardiana. It is a very white frosted looking specimen but the leaves are keeled, uncharacteristic for H. semivia.

Haworthia Revisited – 34. Haworthia serrata

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34. Haworthia serrata Bayer, JS.Afr.Bot. 39:249(1973).  Bayer :55(1976).  non Scott :62(1985).  Type: CAPE‑3420 (Bredasdorp): Oudekraalkop, Heidelberg (‑BA), Bayer 166 (NBG).

serrata: toothed.

Rosette stemless, seldom proliferous, to 7cm φ.  Leaves 20-30, narrow, acuminate, spined along margins and keel, bright yellowish-green with translucent lines above.  Inflorescence simple, robust, to 40cm.  Flowers white with green venation.

1982 – H. serrata occurs in an area which appears to be a kind of watershed for the genus.  This is the area between the Duiwenhoks river draining from Heidelberg to the sea, and the Breede River.  Neither H. retusa, H. turgida, nor H. magnifica are known in the area, and only the one variant regarded as a variant of H. heidelbergensis is known 20 km southwest of Heidelberg at Matjestoon.  H. serrata has the same general form as H. herbacea but is a more uniformly green plant with larger leaves which have a tendency to bend outward.  The flowers are large and white, unlike  H. retusa and H. turgida, and more closely resemble those of H. emelyae from north of the Langeberg mountains.  Recent collections by C. Burgers from the coastal limestones may throw more light on the relationship of H. serrata with a population at Bredasdorp and H. heidelbergensis, and more collecting needs to be done immediately east of the Breede River too.

1999 – The 1982 discussion is vague regarding the Bredasdorp connection.  However, this is because the Bredasdorp area, and particularly the coastal limestones, seem to harbour some unusual elements (see H. mirabilis var. calcarea, H. variegata var. petrophila and H. heidelbergensis var. minor).  The reference was specifically to the last named taxon, which is in any case now recognised in this work.  H. serrata can curiously best be understood by recognition of non-co-occurrences.  There are no other species in the immediate localities known for this species and hence continuance is the only guide.  In this perspective it can be seen to relate to both H. heidelbergensis and to H. mirabilis.  Seedlings often include weaker forms which resemble either the Bredasdorp or Matjestoon varieties of H. heidelbergensis.  Some plants of the Riversdale to Heidelberg populations of that species in turn bear resemblance to H. serrata.  There is also a very close resemblance to forms of H. mirabilis var. sublineata.  The flower is rather robust for the southern Cape species and thus mention was made of the similarity to H. emelyae var. multifolia.  That element also has a connection to H. mirabilis probably through H. heidelbergensis.  H. serrata occurs at three discrete localities and is virtually the only Haworthia species in that area between the Breede River and Heidelberg.  The general shape of the plant tends to deviate from the retuse-like forms of its close allies and veers towards H. herbacea in that respect.  Indeed this is the kind of variability one should expect in terms of Vavilov’s homology or Chaos theory.  Col. Scott mistakenly took a form of H. mucronata for this species.

Distribution: 3420 (Bredasdorp): Oudekraalkop, Heidelberg (‑BA), Bayer 166 (NBG); Koppies (-BA), Bayer 4902 (NBG); N. Oudekraalkop (-BA), Bruyns 6260 (NBG).

  • Haworthia serraata JDV87/148 southwest of Heidelberg. The flowers are large and very white in comparison with its neighbours.
  • Haworthia serraata JDV88/53 southwest of Heidelberg. Many fairly slender spreading leaves which maintain a bright green colour.

[ed.] Bayer now calls this species H. rossouwii V.Poelln. in Kakteenk. 7: 75 (1938).

H. rossouwii var. rossouwii — Distr: RSA (Western Cape: SW of Heidelberg to Bredasdorp); mainly in Fynbos vegetation. I: Bayer (1982: Fig. 36, as H. serrata). Incl. Haworthia serrata M. B. Bayer (1973) ≡ Haworthia chloracantha var. serrata (M. B. Bayer) Halda (1997) ≡ Haworthia rossouwii var. serrata (M. B. Bayer) Breuer (2016). Ros stemless, rarely proliferating, to 7 cm ∅; L 20–30, narrow, 6 × 1 cm, acuminate, bright yellowish-green with translucent lines above, margins and keel spiny; Inf robust, to 40 cm; Fl 20–30, white with green venation.

Haworthia Revisited – 35. Haworthia springbokvlakensis

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35. Haworthia springbokvlakensis Scott, JS.Afr.Bot. 36:287(1970).  Scott, Aloe 11:4(1973).  Bayer :155(1976).  Bayer :37(1982).  Scott :133(1985).  Type: CAPE‑3325 (Port Elizabeth): Springbokvlakte (-BD), Scott 245 (PRE).

springbokvlakensis: from Springbokvlakte.

Rosette stemless, non-proliferous, to 10cm φ.  Leaves 8-12, turgid, very rounded and retused, with translucent end-area and several longitudinal short lines.  Inflorescence simple.  Flowers white with brownish venation.

1982 – This very distinct species with very turgid leaf faces and rounded leaf tips is at the extreme east of the distribution range for the ‘retuse’ haworthias.  H. emelyae would be supposed to be its nearest relative but this species is known only as far east as Uniondale.  It seems as though the gap can only be explained by poor collecting.  H. springbokvlakensis is not well‑known although there are reports of other localities in the area of the type.  The plants are quite variable and the leaves tend to be slightly viscid so that clay and dust particles adhere tightly to leaf surfaces.  Field collected plants are thus often unsightly and dirty compared to the well‑grown cultivated specimens.  The relationship of H. springbokvlakensis to the newly discovered H. bruynsii in the subgenus Hexangulares is the most intriguing mystery in Haworthia.

1999 – The distribution of this species has not really been extended by any new collections apart from a collection reported west of Kirkwood by P. Schoemann and another in the Klipplaat area by J. Bouwer.  The latter collection was of a single robust plant and there is no further record from this area.  Mr A. Joubert reported the presence of the species on three different farms about the known type locality.  There cannot be a relation with H. bruynsii as suggested in 1982 and perhaps the clarification of H. emelyae and H. bayeri will lend more credence to the probability that it is related to the latter.  The species includes forms with very attractive reticulate venation in the upper exposed leaf surfaces which normally only have longitudinal venation.

Distribution: 3324 (Steytlerville): Springbokvlakte (-BD), Scott 245 (PRE), Smith 3585 (NBG), Bayer in KG402/70 (NBG); W. Kleinpoort (-BD), Smith 3590 (NBG); Kleinpoort (-BD), Smith 3585, 3238 (NBG); Two Waters (-BD), Smith 2916 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Malherbe in NBG1003/39, Barker 5068 (NBG), Smith 3530 (NBG).

  • Haworthia sprinbokvlakensis JDV96/98 east of Springbokvlakte. Some forms are almost without surface markings.
  • Haworthia sprinbokvlakensis JDV93/21 south of Kleinpoort. Others may be strongly reticulated.
  • Haworthia sprinbokvlakensis JDV91/11 west of Springbokvlakte. It is a wonderful plant to grow with its extraordinary rounded, turgid leaves.

Haworthia Revisited – 36. Haworthia truncata

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36. Haworthia truncata Schonland, Trans.R.Soc.S.Afr. 1:391(1910).  V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 27:136(1930).  ibid. 41:214(1937).  Hutchinson, Cact.Succ.J(U.S.) 23:99(1951).  Scott, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 29:36(1967).  Bayer :134(1976).  Bayer :57(1982).  Scott :138(1985).  Marx, Aloe 33:18(1996).  Type: Cape Colony, near Oudtshoorn, Miss G. Britten (K):  H. truncata fa tenuis V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:239(1938).  H. truncata var. tenuis (V.Poelln.) Bayer, Haworthia Handbook: 161(1976).  Scott :138(1985).  Type: Cape, Oudtshoorn area.  Not preserved.   H. truncata fa crassa V.Poelln. loc. cit.  Type: Cape, Oudtshoorn area.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (B&M) icon, Des. Pl. Life 19: 79(1947): H. truncata fa normalis V. Poelln. ibid.  Type: Cape, Oudtshoorn area.  Not preserved.

truncata: ending abruptly and square.

Rosette stemless, slowly proliferous, distichous.  Leaves 10-12, from 12mm to 40mm wide, 3mm to 10mm thick, scabrid with minute tubercles, end-area abruptly truncate, sub-pellucid.  Inflorescence simple, to 200mm.  Flowers white with brownish veins.

1982 – Like H. maughanii, the leaves are very abruptly truncated, but they are arranged distichously.  This unusual leaf form and arrangement has earned the species the colloquial name ‘perdetande’, meaning ‘horses teeth’.  H. truncata is quite widespread although there are many indications of gross over collecting.  It occurs from west of Oudtshoorn near De Rust, to just southwest of Calitzdorp.  Although reasonably variable it has been observed that the fa tenuis does not necessarily retain its small size when grown in cultivation and recognition of such variety no longer seems necessary.  H. truncata is easy to grow and propagates from leaf and from root ‑ in both cases it appears necessary for there to be some stem tissue as a source of leaf primordia.

1999 – The Japanese have exploited the range of variation in this species and have some extraordinary cultivars which seem to make the recognition of varieties really superfluous.  The fact that crossing H. truncata and H. maughanii seems to produce intermediates and plants equivalent to both parents, suggests that the difference of distichous to multifarious, is a very simple genetic one.  Marx (1996) has reported on the two elements growing together in a polyglot of intermediary forms, thereby confirming a view that they are really conspecific.  This requires repetition of a comment on hybridisation.  It is really irrational to speak of hybrids in the way that suggests the parents have come from different origins and are now in cross-pollination contact.  Here we have two elements which must have sprung from a common source and never been isolated.  What that source is may be a mystery, and the most probable in terms of geographic location and morphology is perhaps H. bayeri.  A form has also been collected in the same general area that the var. tenuis occurs,  which has surface hairs much like H. cooperi var. venusta from the Eastern Cape.

a.var. truncata
Distributed from southwest of Calitzdorp to the De Rust area east of Oudtshoorn.  This variety has the capacity to re-grow from roots although it is not certain if stem tissue is required to achieve this.

Distribution: 3321 (Ladismith): Blackburn Valley, Calitzdorp(‑DA), W.F.Barker 5340 (NBG); SW. Calitzdorp (-DA), Smith 2069 (NBG); W. Calitzdorp (-DA), Venter 13 (NBG).  3322 (Oudtshoorn): Schoemanshoek (-AC), Oddie in NBG82/20 (BOL); Volmoed (-CA), Venter 7 (NBG), Heunis 9 (NBG); Oudtshoorn graveyard (-CA), Heunis 7 (NBG); DeRust to Kamanassie (-CB), Smith 6915 (NBG); Vanwykskraal (-CB), Fourcade 213 (NBG), Smith 2068, 4007, 5621 (NBG), Venter 20 (NBG);

Inadequately located: Cape, Marloth 12732 (PRE); Calitzdorp, Blackburn (BOL); Oudtshoorn, Taylor (BOL); ex hort Whitehill, NBG68235, Malherbe in NBG422/40.

  • Haworthia truncata var. truncata JDV85/82 Vanwykskraal. A famous locality and the source of most cultivated specimens.
  • Haworthia truncata var. truncata JDV85/82 Vanwykskraal. The capacity to regenerate from roots may account for the resilience of the population.
  • Haworthia truncata var. truncata JDV92/98 east of Oudtshoorn. A remarkable torm with spinescent leaf surfaces.
  • Haworthia truncata var. truncata JDV85/84 west of Calitzdorp. In this area there are plants with very thick leaves.

b.var. maughanii (V.Poelln.) Fearn, Natn.Cact.Succ.J 21:28(1966).  H. maughanii V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 31:85(1932).  ibid. 41:205(1937).  ibid. 44:239(1938).  Bayer :134(1976).  Bayer :47(1982).  Scott :139(1985).  Type: Cape, near Calitzdorp, H. Maughan-Brown.  Not preserved.  Neotype (B&M): CAPE‑3321 (Ladismith): Calitzdorp, Malherbe in NBG307/40 (BOL).

maughanii: for H. Maughan‑Brown.

Rosette multifarious.  Leaves round in cross-section.

1982 – There are two species with abruptly truncated leaves, H. maughanii and H. truncata.  In the former species the leaves are multifarious whereas in H. truncata they remain distichous.  Artificial cross‑pollination has yielded hybrids with shared parental characters.  Geographically H. maughanii occupies a very distinctive small habitat within the western limits of the distribution of H. truncata.  The relationship of the two species is thus a little unclear and there may be little reason for maintaining two species.  Contrary to a suggestion by Hutchinson (1951), the relationship with H. retusa must be distant.  The truncation of the leaves is apparent in the earliest leaves and is not brought about by outward flexure of the leaf tips as occurs in H. retusa.

1999 – This element is also remarkably variable and the truncated end-area may be translucent, opaque and variously veined as in the typical variety.  The end-area margins may be scabrous and variously crispate or undulate.  Also the number, shape, and size of the leaves varies enormously and parallels easily the same range that motivated von Poellnitz to recognize three major forms in H. truncata.

Distribution: 3321 (Ladismith): S. Calitzdorp (-DA), Fourcade 169 (NBG), Smith 2070, 6094, 6094a (NBG); Calitzdorp (‑DA), Mrs Taute in NBG 68778.

Inadequately located: Calitzdorp, Blackburn (BOL), Ross-Frames (BOL), Taylor (BOL), Oddie in NBG1559/32 (BOL); ex hort, Whitehill (NBG),Malherbe in NBG307/40; Cape, Marloth 12732 (PRE).

  • Haworthia truncata var. maughanii JDV84/36 south of Calitzdorp. The exciting variants bred in captivity make it surprising that ordinary specimens from the field are still traded unscrupulously.
  • Haworthia truncata var. maughanii JDV84/36 south of Calitzdorp. Differs from the var. truncata only in that the leaves are rotate and not distichous. The leaf shapes and markings are also highly variable, providing wonderful material for selection and breeding.
  • Haworthia truncata var. maughanii JDV94/10 south of Calitzdorp. Fortunately ostriches discourage access to the limited locality. This is teh population cited by Marx, 1996.

Haworthia Revisited – 37. Haworthia turgida

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37. Haworthia turgida Haw., Suppl.Pl.Succ. :52(1819).  Salm-Dyck, Monogr. 9:t5(1837).  Bayer :163(1976).  Bayer :57(1982).  H. retusa sensu Scott :113(1985).  Type: Cape, ex hort Kew.  Not preserved.  Neotype (B&M): icon, Bowie (K):  H. laetivirens Haw., Suppl.Pl.Succ. :53(1819).  Salm-Dyck, Monogr. 10:t3(1837).  Type: Cape.  Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): icon t.3, Salm-Dyck:  H. caespitosa V.Poelln., Cactus J 5:33(1936).  V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 43:103(1938).  Type: Cape, near McGregor, G.J. Payne in Triebn. 586.  Not preserved. Lectotype (B&M): icon (B):  H. caespitosa fa subplana V.Poelln. ibid. 44:232(1938).  Type: Cape, Uniondale, G. Helm in Triebn. 874.  Not preserved:  H. caespitosa fa subproliferans V.Poelln. ibid.  Type: Cape, Calvinia.  Not preserved.

turgida: swollen.

Rosette partially stemless, proliferous, 5-10cm φ.  Leaves 20-40, turgid often as thick as broad, recurved or slightly retused, generally mottled, yellow-green to pink in sun, margins and keel lightly spined.  Inflorescence simple, 15-20cm.  Flowers slender, brownish-white with darker venation.

1982 – H. turgida is the most widely distributed of the Southwestern Cape species and also the most variable.  It occurs in both the higher mountains in sandstone, and also on the lower lying shales.  It is very subject to ecotypic variation and the best evidence of this is north of Bredasdorp eastward apparently through the coastal limestones, northward to Swellendam where there is possibly intergradation with H. reticulata, then eastwards again in the Langeberg Mountains and down all the main river valleys including the lower Breede River valley.  The eastern limit is near Little Brak.  The northern limit is of course the Langeberg mountain range and it is unlikely that H. turgida occurs inland along the Gouritz river ‑ despite an unconfirmed report of a collection northwest of Calitzdorp.  Some of Von Poellnitz’s forms and varieties were recorded from as far afield as Calvinia and Steytlerville.  Although the possibility of such collections cannot be completely ruled out, it is unlikely that these could have been relatives of H. turgida.  There are forms in the Potberg mountains as well as in the Riviersonderend mountains which may intergrade with other local species (e.g. at Greyton with H. mirabilis) in the same way that H. turgida is related to H. retusa in the Heidelberg and Riversdale areas, or at Albertinia.  It is a fascinating problem as it is obvious that affinities at one locality may not be the same at another.  Thus it is quite conceivable that H. turgida may have an affinity with H. magnifica var. notabilis at Robertson, with H. maculata in the Hex River valley and with H. archeri through the inland mountains.  H. turgida is generally a small species up to about 30mm diameter in the sandstones, however, in shales it may grow up to 80mm diameter.  It is always very proliferous and grows on steep rocky slopes as opposed to H. retusa which is less proliferous and on level areas.  H. turgida is also not withdrawn into the ground.  This contrast of proliferation and withdrawal into the soil as opposed to clump formation also occurs in the related species H. reticulata and H. herbacea, and is evident in less strongly related species such as H. cooperi and H. cymbiformis.

1999 – The early illustrations by Salm-Dyck hardly allow room for doubt about this species, and yet the localities that von Poellnitz cites are grossly off the mark for the species and varieties which he described and cited.  The problem that Col Scott had with this species and with H. retusa should also be explained here.  It arises out of a misconception about leaf tiers and the statement ‘quinquefarious’ in the early literature.  This term refers to vertical leaf tiers and it is apparent from a manuscript in the Grahamstown (Albany) Museum (and also from the revision in Aloe 11, 1973) that Scott concluded this to mean horizontal leaf layers.  Also Scott’s treatment, where he applies the name H. retusa to this element, as well as to a number of von Poellnitz’ species and varieties H. laetivirens, is baffling.  Breuer and Metzing have nominated a neotype which is not a good representation of the typical variety from the sandstones of the Langeberg mountains.

Of the southern Cape species, H. turgida is unquestionably the main role player.  It occurs in recognisable form from Bredasdorp to east of Mossel Bay.  It forms a continuum with H. reticulata and H. herbacea which are in the Worcester/Robertson area, and ranges from the Langeberg high peaks to the valleys running seaward and southward.  It is unfortunate that apart from Smith’s names, few others have any geographical credibility.  The affinities suggested in the 1982 discussion are in retrospect improbable.  If there is a further association which needs exploration, it may be the link with the inland species through the high mountain forms.  It does not seem sound to speculate on the chronological origins of the elements at altitude as opposed to those at lower levels.

a.var. turgida
The typical variety based on Salm-Dyck’s renditions, rather than on the Kew illustration cited by Scott, which I have not seen, is considered to be the one in the Tradouw Pass east of Swellendam.  The leaves are almost recurved, highly mottled and moderately spined.  The higher mountain forms in the sandstones are generally smaller and note has to be taken of similarities between these smaller softer elements of apparently disparate species e.g. H. mirabilis var. consanguinea, H. maculata, and H. vlokii, all at high altitude in sandstones.  At Heidelberg H. turgida expresses its full potential in terms of ecotypic variation where it passes from sandstones, to shales and on to the clays of the Witteberg series.  It also appears to hybridise with both H. heidelbergensis and with H. floribunda in that area.

Distribution: 3320 (Montagu): Tradouw Pass (-BC), Read (BOL), Smith 3247, 5160, 6784, 7517 (NBG); S. Barrydale (-DC), Smith 3902 (NBG).  3321(Ladismtih): 16km N. Riversdale (-CC), Smith 7197 (NBG); NE. Riversdale (-CC), Smith 5385 (NBG).  3420(Bredasdorp): Buffeljachts (-BA), Smith 4941 (NBG); Heidelberg (-BB), Smith 5044 (NBG), Kramer in NBG841/60; N. Heidelberg (-BB), Smith 6203 (NBG); Bayer in KG240/72, in KG 241/72 (NBG); Blackdown (-BB), Smith 5546 (NBG).  3421(Riversdale): Glen (-AB), Muir 3006 (BOL); Klein Kruisriver (-AB), Smith 6075, 6080 (NBG).

Inadequately located: ex hort. Whitehill, NBG68371, NBG68056, ex hort. Ross-Frames, NBG81/44, NBG2937/32, NBG68057, NBG1827/28, Smith 3240, 3429), 3498, 3904, 3950 (NBG); Swellendam, Ross-Frames (BOL); Riversdale, Muir in NBG1827/28 (BOL); Albertinia, Muir 1300 (BOL).

  • Haworthia turgida var. turgida JDV89/20 north of Heidelberg. This population seems to have been influenced by H. heidelbergensis.
  • Haworthia turgida var. turgida JDV89/23 north of Heidelberg. A little further north the plants are transforming to the smaller typical appearance.
  • Haworthia turgida var. turgida JDV85/75 Tradouw Pass. It is characteristically found in the sandstones and can occur in dense masses on steep rock faces.

b.var. longebracteata (Smith) Bayer comb.nov.  H. longebracteata Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 11:75(1945).  Scott :127(1985).  Type: CAPE-3421(Riversdale): near Stilbaai, Dekenah 18 in Smith 5378 (NBG).

longebracteata: long bracts.

This variety is fairly large and represents the lower-lying larger forms which occur from Bredasdorp across to the Kafferkuils River east of Riversdale.  The typical form is from the Stilbaai area where the leaves tend to be suberect with a fairly pronounced end-area.  To the west this end-area is less pronounced and both the Bredasdorp and the Swellendam (southwest) forms are reminiscent of the flatter non-retused leaves of H. reticulata.

Distribution: 3420 (Bredasdorp): 5km SW. Swellendam (-AB), Bayer 2420 (NBG), van der Merwe in NBG1184/28, Malherbe in NBG204/41; Napky (-AB) Bruyns in KG37/77 (NBG); 20km N. Bredasdorp (-AC), Venter in NBG868/38, Malherbe in NBG470/42, Smith 3949, 5484 (NBG), Bayer in KG34/70 (NBG); Kransriviermond (-BB), Smith 5752 (NBG); Diepkloof, S. Malgas (-BC), Bayer 2533 (PRE); 3km W. Vermaaklikheid (-BD), Kramer 434 (PRE).  3421(Riversdale): Kafferkuils Bridge (-AB), Smith 6795 (NBG), Bayer 4479 (PRE); S. Riversdale (-AB), Smith 7181, 7204 (NBG); Duiwenhoksriver (-AC), Bayer 2672 (NBG); Brakfontein (-AC), Smith 6107 (NBG), Bayer in KG94/71 (NBG); Botterkloof (-AD), Smith 5378 (BOL,PRE); Kransfontein Farm (-AD), Bohnen 7735 (NBG,PRE); Stilbaai (-AD), Fouche 46 (PRE); Dekenah 18 in Smith 5378 (NBG), Smith 2242, 2811, 5382, 6794 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Heidelberg, Ferguson (BOL).

  • Haworthia turgida var. longibracteata JDV89/24 north of Stilbaai. Always on rocky steep slopes and in dense clusters.
  • Haworthia turgida var. longibracteata JDV92/30 south of Heidelberg. Very like H. reticulata except for the larger, more turgid and spreading leaves. The flower is much less conspicuous.
  • Haworthia turgida var. longibracteata JDV92/30 south of Heidelberg. Becoming very colourful under stress.
  • Haworthia turgida var. longibracteata JDV86/6 north of Bredasdorp. A very isolated population.

c.suberecta V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:134(1938).  Type: Cape, George district, Mrs Helm in Triebn. 844.  Not preserved:  Neotype: CAPE-3422(Mossel Bay): Brandwacht (-AA), Bayer in KG631/69 (NBG):  H. turgida var. subtuberculata V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:134(1938).  Type: Cape, Mossel Bay, Lategan.  Not preserved:  H. turgida var. pallidifolia Smith, JS.Afr.Bot. 12:10(1946).  Type: CAPE-3421(Riversdale): Draaihoek, Albertinia, J. Dekenah 146 in Smith 5714 (NBG).

suberecta: leaves almost erect.

Here the variety is extended to include all these more strongly retused, clump-forming populations which extend all the way from Brandwacht, northeast of Mossel Bay, to Albertinia.  This variety is strongly mottled and the leaf ends are slightly truncated and rounded.  Smith based his var pallidifolia on a pale-coloured variant which is actually not very common.  The Gouritz River form is the most truncated and as, in the typical variety, is highly mottled with semi-translucent dots.

Distribution: 3421 (Riversdale): Draaihoek, Albertinia (-BA), J. Dekenah 146 in Smith 5714 (NBG), Smith 5045, 5490 (NBG), Bayer 4476 (PRE); Weltevrede (-BA), Smith 5537, 7202, 7203 (NBG), Bayer 4471 (NBG); Wydersriver (-BA), Smith 2890 (NBG); Droogerug (-BA), Muir 3006 (BOL); Nuweberg (-BA), Bohnen 9024 (NBG); E. Valsch River Bridge (-BA), Smith 5714, 6912 (NBG), Bayer 4477 (NBG); Gouritz River (-BB), Fouche 48 (PRE), Smith 3857, 3961 (NBG), Bayer 4478 (NBG).  3422 (Mossel Bay): Brandwacht (-AA), Herre in STE6374 (BOL), Bayer in KG631/69 (NBG)

Inadequately located: Mossel Bay, Smith 4952, 5078 (NBG); ex hort Smith 647 (NBG), Naude in NBG1

  • Haworthia turgida var. suberecta JDV84/74 northwest of Mossel Bay. Leaves abbreviated and rounded at the tips.
  • Haworthia turgida var. suberecta JDV87/108 Grouritz River. If not so proliferous this would probably be a much more popular plant.
  • Haworthia turgida var. suberecta JDV94/101 Brandwacht north of Mossel Bay. On stony clay slopes.
  • Haworthia turgida var. suberecta JDV94/88 northwest of Albertinia. The origin of Smith’s var. pallidifolia in which the leaves are very pale.

Haworthia Revisited – 38. Haworthia variegata

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38. Haworthia variegata Bolus, J Bot.Soc.S.Afr. :137(1929).  V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 27:102(1930).  ibid. 44:228(1938).  Bayer :165(1976).  Bayer :60(1982).  Scott :56(1985).  Type: Cape, Botterkloof, Mrs. E. Ferguson in Bolus 18900.

variegata: variegated.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, to 4cm φ.  Leaves 30-40, erect, slender, lanceolate, margins and keel spined, variegated.  Inflorescence simple, slender, to 35cm.  Flowers greenish-white with brownish venation, sparse on peduncle.

1982 – This species is for the present only known in the area between Riversdale and Stilbaai.  Of the two populations known, one comprises very proliferous plants in rocky situations, and the second sparsely proliferous individuals in sandy areas.  The plants have long slender leaves, dark green in colour and strongly variegated.  The relationship with other species is obscure and must probably be sought with H. chloracantha.  H. variegata and H. divergens are superficially very similar but the latter has incurved leaf tips.  Geographically considerations seem to preclude a real relationship between these two species.  H. variegata is closely associated with the coastal limestones of the Southwestern Cape.  As it is also in the winter rainfall area one can expect that it may present some problems in cultivation.

1999 – Several collections throw more light on this species and the discussion should be considered together with that for H. chloracantha, and H. floribunda.  These southern Cape species cannot be considered discrete elements.  C. Burgers collected from a very cryptic population on the eastern lower slopes of the Potberg.  The plants were very drawn into the gravelly sandstone derived but clayey soil.  These were given a manuscript name ‘H. hemicrypta’, applied here at varietal rank.  Three other different populations have been recorded all differing markedly from one another and this is expressed in the varieties recognised below.  The one at Swellendam is very like H. floribunda var. virescens.

a.var. variegata
Known only from Botterkloof and from several kilometres inland in sandy situations.  The plants are very variegated.  They can only be said to co-occur with one species which is in the same sub-genus, H. turgida.

Distribution: 3421(Riversdale): Droevlakte, Takkiesfontein (-AD), Bohnen 7791 (NBG,PRE); Botterkloof (-AD), Dekenah 19 (PRE), Smith 5384 (NBG), Ferguson in BOL18900; Hoekraal (-AB), Smith 5598 (NBG), Bayer in KG93/71 (NBG); 10km Riversdale to Stilbay (-AD), Minnaar in BOL23214;.

  • Haworthia variegata var. variegata JDV89/6 Botterkloof. At the type locality the plants form dense clusters.
  • Haworthia variegata var. variegata JDV87/2 west of Albertinia. Very abundant among rocks in Coastal Fynbos.
  • Haworthia variegata var. variegata JDV87/2 west of Albertinia. The plants are distinctly variegated

b.var. hemicrypta var.nov.  Type: 3420 (Bredasdorp): NE. lower slopes of Potberg (-BC), C. Burgers 2582 (NBG, Holo.).

hemicrypta: half-buried.

Moderately variegated to plain, with leaves long and slender, tending to arch out and then incurved.  (A var. variegata foliis longis gracilibus subtiliter variegatis et habitu occultanti differt).

This variety is represented by three populations west of the Breede river with the most inland to the northeast of Swellendam.  The plants of the inland populations are quite robust and proliferous.  Both the most coastal and the most inland forms are relatively unmarked, whereas the other has distinctive spotting on the lower and outer leaf surfaces.

Distribution: 3420(Bredasdorp): Swellendam (-AB), Tomlinson 13681 (PRE), Ross-Frames in NBG2603/27 (BOL); 3km W. Swellendam (-AB), Smith 3232, 5620 (NBG), DeKok (NBG); Luiperskop (-AD), Venter 1 (NBG); NE. lower slopes of Potberg (-BC), C. Burgers 2582 (NBG), Bayer 2564 (NBG).

  • Haworthia variegata var. hemicrypta JDV85/10 northeast of Bredasdorp. West of the Breede River are three aberrant populations in which the plants are less conspicuously variegated.
  • Haworthia variegata var. hemicrypta JDV85/10 northeast of Bredasdorp. This population is just below a Witteberg terricrete cap.
  • Haworthia variegata var. hemicrypta JDV86/11 northeast of Potberg. In sandstone gravel in low Coastal Fynbos, the plants are extremely cryptic and only the leaf tips are visible.

c.var. modesta var.nov. Type: CAPE-3420 (Bredasdorp): SW. Kathoek (-AD), Bayer 2551 (NBG, Holo.).

modesta: modest.

Leaves broader and shorter and with less conspicuous spination, than the typical variety.  (A var. variegata habitu prolificanti et foliis brevioribus pernuerosis aliquantum incurvatis differt).

This variety occurs among fynbos in fairly loose sand amid rocks.  It is proliferous and moderately variegated although the fewer leaves are more turgid than expected for this species.  There is some evidence of translucence along the margins and at the leaf-tips, particularly in a collection by Venter also from Kathoek.  A.R. Mitchell also collected a single specimen of this element from the Potberg Mountain where it was later also noted by P.V. Bruyns.  H. heidelbergensis grows in the same vicinity.

Distribution: 3420 (Bredasdorp): SW. Kathoek (-AD), Bayer 2551 (NBG), Potberg Mountain (-BC), Bayer & Bruyns 6542 (NBG).

  • Haworthia variegata var. modesta JDV86/68 Kathoek northwest of Bredasdorp. Plants of this original collection do not have the vigour and transclucence of the later collection.
  • Haworthia variegata var. modesta JDV92/128 Kathoek, northwest of Bredasdorp. Occuring as a much smaller form in the sandstones of the Potberg mountain.

d.var. petrophila var.nov.  Type: CAPE-3420 (Bredasdorp): Renosterfontein (-CA), Burgers 2158 (NBG, Holo.).

petrophila: stone loving.

Very proliferous with more leaves which are relatively shorter and incurved than in the typical variety.

The leaves of this variety are rather slender, compared to the more deltoid-shape in the var. modesta.  The denser and stronger spination is reminiscent of H. herbacea, but otherwise there is little probability of any close relation with that species.

Distribution: 3420 (Bredasdorp): Renosterfontein (-CA), Burgers 2158 (NBG)

  • Haworthia variegata var. petrophila JDV97/24 Karsrivier. Re-collection has indicated that this may have been a spinescent oddity, as the plants were generally much like the var. modesta.
  • Haworthia variegata var. petrophila JDV86/67 Karsrivier. More spinescent.

Haworthia Revisited – 39. Haworthia vlokii

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39. Haworthia vlokii Bayer spec.nov.

Type: CAPE-3322 (Oudtshoorn): Swartberg Mts. (-BC), Vlok in Venter 91/2 (NBG. Holo.).

This species is named after Jan Vlok, well known naturalist and observer, who has contributed greatly to the knowledge of the flora of the mountains of the Little Karoo and Southern Cape.  H. vlokii is a small proliferous species reminiscent of H. maculata from the Langeberg Mountains in the Worcester/Robertson area.  The flower tends to be similarly regular with a slightly biarcuate bud.  This is also fairly similar to that of H. monticola.  The more regular stellate flower, and slightly incurving leaf-tips, are also suggestive of that species which is geographically the most probable affinity.  H. vlokii has been recorded at low altitude in Meiringspoort, but this was where it was growing on a huge fallen rock.  It is more at home at higher altitude in the mountain pass and was originally also collected on top of the Groot Swartberg Mountains to the east of the Pass.  Here it was growing on a north-facing rock wall.  There are no co-occurring species although the southern end of Meiringspoort is also home to a depauperate form of H. arachnoidea var. setata.  There are several collections, mainly by P.V. Bruyns from the deep valleys on the north side of the Swartbergs.  Those to the west of Prince Albert have been included in H. marumiana var. viridis, but one from the eastern Frisgewaagd is a small form of H. vlokii.  A lot more exploration and good recording will be required before these mountain-dwellers are better understood. (H. maculata affinis sed foliis parvioribus angunstioribus fuscatioribusque floribus roseo-tinctis, et habitu valde prolificanti differt.)

Rosette acaulescent, 40-50mm diam., proliferous by offset.  Stem up to 10mm diam.  Leaves spreading to sub-erect, up to 30 X 6-8mm, 3-4mm thick, slightly incurving tips with 2mm long end-awn, surfaces opaque;  face convex with 1-2 short rows of inconspicuous opaque whiter dots towards tip; back convex with 3-6 rows of opaque whiter dots, with 1-2 sharper keels bearing spines to 0.6mm long; margins similarly toothed towards apex.  Peduncle simple, 1-1.5mm diam., 300-450mm long including raceme, pinkish-brown;  base smooth, 3-angled;  raceme with 6-18 flowers, 2-4 open; pedicels 4-6mm long, 1mm diam.,  sterile bracts 5-11, 4-6mm long.  Perianth white and brownish-pink, 15mm long, perigon sub-triangular, tepals regular;  tube brownish-pink within;  buds slightly biarcuate, with rounded tips.  Flowering November.

Distribution: 3322 (Oudtshoorn): Frisgewaagd (-AD), Bruyns 6252 (BOL); Swartberg Mts. (-BC), Vlok in Venter 91/2 (NBG): Meiringspoort (-BC), Venter 94/92, 93/14 (NBG).

  • Haworthia vlokii JDV91/140 Meiringspoort. Occurs in sandstones. The flowers are usually large.
  • Haworthia vlokii JDV91/140 low altitude at Meiringspoort. Very proliferous. Some clones are very tiny.
  • Haworthia vlokii JDV93/14 high altitude at Meiringspoort. A much smaller form has been collected by P.V.Bruyns to the west of Meiringspoort.
  • Haworthia vlokii JDV91/2 east of Meiringspoort. It occurs mostly at higher altitudes in the mountains.

Haworthia Revisited – 40. Haworthia wittebergensis

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40. Haworthia wittebergensis Barker, JS.Afr.Bot. 8:245(1942).  Bayer :168(1976.  Bayer :61(1982).  Scott :62(1985).  Type: CAPE‑3320 (Montagu): Witteberg (‑BA), L. Pieterse in NBG 68214.

wittebergensis: from the Witteberg mountains.

Rosette stemless, slowly proliferous, to 3cm φ.  Leaves 20-30, long slender attenuate, amplexicaul at base, grey-green with white spines on margins and keel, coriaceous.  Inflorescence simple, slender, to 30cm.  Flowers white with green venation, sparsely arranged.

1982 – So many Haworthia species intergrade frustratingly into related species, that it is a relief to find the occasional species which is indisputably discrete.  This species has long grey‑green leaves, with a dry papery texture.  The leaves are particularly broad at the base where they encircle the stem.  H. wittebergensis also avoids direct sunlight and is invariably crammed tightly into rock cracks and crevices.  In the dry summers the plants may be very difficult to see because the exposed leaves look no different to small dead tufts of grass.  H. wittebergensis is often proliferous but slowly so.  It is also a slow grower and requires winter watering.  In cultivation the leaves tend to be lighter in colour, and they thicken out and become erect spreading.  In the field the leaves may be tightly compacted into a narrow sheaf.

1999 – The distribution seems to be restricted to the mountains to the south of Laingsburg.  A relationship with H. pulchella is often proposed when in fact this species and H. blackburniae are probably closer on account of a stem structure which is similar to that of the Hexangulares.  The stems have quite woody vascular bundles as opposed to the generally uniformly soft tissue of the stems in the subgenus Haworthia.

Distribution: 3320 (Montagu): Witteberg (‑BC) L. Pieterse in NBG 68214, Smith 5647 (NBG); S. Whitehill (-BC), Compton 15247 (BOL), Lewis & Barker in NBG2251/32 (BOL); SW. Laingsburg (-BC), Bayer 2424 (NBG); Rooinek Pass (-BC), Bruyns in KG13/76 (NBG); Keurfontein (-BD), Bruyns in KG14/75 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Leighton (BOL).

  • Haworthia wittebergensis JDV91/78 south of Laingsburg. Nearly always in cracks and crevices and with the leaf tips often eaten down.
  • Haworthia wittebergensis JDV91/78 south of Laingsburg. It does form clumps but is usually restricted by the confinement of the rock cracks.
  • Haworthia wittebergensis JDV90/67 south of Laingsburg. Difficult to grow because of its winter rain requirement and sensitivity to direct sunlight.

Haworthia Revisited – 41. Haworthia zantneriana

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41. Haworthia zantneriana V.Poelln., Cactus J 5:35(1936).  V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 41:217(1937).  V.Poelln., Desert.Pl.Life 9:90(1937). ibid. Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 44:228(1938).  Type: Cape, Groot River heights, N. Campherpoort, E. King 111.  Not preserved.  Lectotype (B&M): icon (B).

zantneriana: in honour of Major Zantner.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, 5-6cm φ.  Leaves 20-40, soft, glabrous, attenuate, spreading, pale-green, usually with pellucid white longitudinal marks on the leaves.  Inflorescence simple, slender, to 25cm.  Flowers white with green venation, sparse.

1982 – H. zantneriana is an unusual species with glabrous smooth leaves marked with pale longitudinal markings.  It is proliferous and can form fairly dense clumps.  It is usually found on well‑shaded south slopes but only in rock cracks and crevices.  The original locality is at Campherspoort near Klipplaat which appears to be at about the mid‑point in the east‑west distribution of the species.  There is an indication that the plants get smaller in either direction.  Where it occurs north of Willowmore, and also in the Baviaanskloof, there is a strong suggestion that H. zantneriana will be found to be continuous with H. divergens.  The plants get smaller with more erect unmarked leaves which are also distinctly and sharply keeled, and have marginal teeth.  Towards the east the margins tend to be haired.  However, further exploration is needed to determine where the end‑point is in this direction.

1999 – The type of this species is noted to be a collection King 111 from Groot River Heights.  There is a collection from further east in the Bolus Herbarium under King 111, but which is from Swanepoelspoort.  This specimen is presumed not to be the same as the original and is cited under the var. minor.  Not much more has been learned about this species and its affinities.  Possibly it continuous with H. gracilis var. viridis in the east and with H. marumiana var. viridis in the west.  The more probable affinity is with H. monticola and this is substantiated by two collections.  The first is a collection from the Witberg southeast of Willowmore which is nearer to H. monticola in that the leaves are slender, incurved at the tips, and mottled.  The texture is relatively soft for that species.  The second is from Trompetterspoort, just northeast of Willowmore where the plants really are intermediate between the two species both in appearance and geographically.  Note must be taken of the mountain chains along which the respective species are distributed, and along which they may be related.

a.var. zantneriana.
Fairly wide spread in the mountains north of the Little Karoo and often quite large, to 8cm tall.

Distribution: 3323 (Willowmore): S. Redcliffe (-BA), Bruyns 7047 (BOL); Wildsview (-BA), Vlok 1553 (NBG).  3324(Steytlerville): Campherspoort (‑AA), Smith 3595 (NBG), Bruyns 1628 (NBG), Fourcade 57 (NBG), Barker 5000 (NBG); Mt Stewart (-AB), Bruyns 1811 (NBG); Waaipoort (-AD), Bayer & Bruyns 6585 (NBG).

  • Haworthia zantneriana var. zantneriana JDV97/13 northeast of Willowmore. Quite a robust form with spreading leaves.
  • Haworthia zantneriana var. zantneriana JDV93/42 north of Campherpoort. The normal larger form often has white keels and margins, and some similar flecking on the leaf surfaces.

b.var. minor var.nov.  Type: CAPE-3323 (Willowmore): near Miller Station (-BB), Bayer 1702 (NBG, Holo.).

minor: small.

Small, to 5cm, without markings on the leaves.  (A var. zantneriana foliis parvioribus immaculatis differt).

The specimen Bruyns 7071 cited below from near Willowmore (Trompetterspoort) is intermediate between this species and H. monticola as mentioned earlier.

Distribution: 3323 (Willowmore): N. Redcliffe (-BA), Bruyns 7061 (BOL); Trompetterspoort (-BA), Bruyns 7071 (BOL); near Miller Station (-BB), Bayer 1702 (NBG); Bakenskop (-BB), Mitchell 354 (NBG).  Swanepoelspoort (-BB), King 111 (BOL).

  • Haworthia zantneriana var. minor JDV85/26 Miller Station. A smaller form with less conspicuous markings.
  • Haworthia zantneriana var. minor JDV97/17 northeast of Willowmore. A small form transitional to H. monticola.

Haworthia Revisited – 42. Haworthia attenuata

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42. Haworthia attenuata Haw., Syn.Pl.Succ. :92(1812).  Haw., Rev.Pl.Succ. :54(1821).  Berger, Das Planzen. :93(1908).  Bayer :100(1976).  Bayer :63(1982).  Scott :15(1985).  Aloe attenuata Haw., Trans.Linn.Soc. 7:11(1804).  Salm-Dyck, Monogr. 6:t12(1834).  Aloe radula sensu Ker-G., Curtis’ Bot. Mag. t.1345(1811).  Type: Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): icon t1345, Curtis’ Bot. Mag.:  H. clariperla Haw., Phil.Mag. :186(1928).  Aloe attenuata var. clariperla (Haw) Salm-Dyck, Monogr. 6:12b (1834).  H. attenuata var. clariperla (Haw.) Baker, J Linn.Soc. :204(1880).  Farden, Cactus J 8:34(1939):  H. attenuata fa clariperla (Haw.) Bayer :107(1976).  Bayer :63(1982):  Type: Not preserved.  Neotype (designated here): icon, 6:12b, Salm-Dyck, Monogr.:  H. fasciata var. caespitosa Berger, Das Pflanzen. 33:92(1908).  Type: Not preserved:  H. brittenianae V.Poelln., Feddes Repert.Spec.Nov. 41:196(1937).  H. attenuata var. britteniana V.Poelln., Kakt.u.and.Sukk. 10:166(1937).  H. attenuata fa britteniana (V.Poelln.) Bayer :104(1976).  Bayer :63(1982).  Type: Cape, Oudtshoorn, Mrs van der Bijl in Triebn. 807.  Not preserved.  Neotype (B&M)): icon (B).  Epitype: Plutosvale, Smith 1118 (NBG). H. attenuata var. odonoghueana Farden, Cactus J 8:34(1939), et vars. linearis, uitewaaliana, deltoidea, minissima, inusitata.  Types: not preserved.

attenuata: tapering leaves.

Rosette stemless, proliferous, to 130mm tall.  Leaves to 130 X 15mm, attenuate, spreading, lanceolate-deltoid, surfaces scabrid with distinct raised non-confluent tubercles.  Inflorescence sparsely branched, lax.  Flowers tepals fused, tube straight, lower inner tepals revolute.

1982 -This species is widespread in the Eastern Cape from beyond the Fish River in the east, to the Humansdorp area in the west.  Old records suggest that it was collected near Umtata in the Transkei and also in the Kei River valley.  It may appear to be closely related to H. fasciata but it is distinguished by having longer, thinner and generally more spreading leaves.  The leaf faces are also always tubercled.  H. attenuata occurs in the drier Valley Bushveld vegetation.  In the Hankey area, H. attenuata and H. radula grow together.  There do not appear to be any direct and obvious intermediates between very similar species but breeding experiments may prove them to be the same.  H. attenuata fa clariperla is very common in gardens and collections throughout South Africa and is recognised by the large white confluent tubercles in bands across the back of the leaves.  The original origin of this form is not known but it has been collected at Fort Brown.  H. attenuata fa britteniae was collected in Plutosvale and is recognised by its many large white discrete tubercles.  Farden recognised a host of varieties based on minor differences.  Smith (1950) pointed out some of the difficulties which arise when one goes to this extreme, saying that it would be possible, on the basis of leaf characters, to derive several varieties from the same plant.

1999 – The recognition of two separate forms is abandoned, and it is suggested that variants are referred to by locality of origin.  There is as yet no further confirmation of a distribution extending to beyond the Fish River in the east.  Breuer and Metzing neotypify the species name by a specimen which is cited under the var. radula in this work.  There really is no need to depart from early illustrations for typification purposes for which there are several precedents.  The species is well known, and Breuer and Metzing have introduced the first confusion of identity in the history of the species.

a.var. attenuata.
This variety is recognised from necessity arising from the inclusion of H. radula within this species, and in preference to recognising the many other varieties already in the history of the species.

Distribution: 3226 (Fort Beaufort): Middeldrift (-DD), Smith 3511 (NBG).  3324 (Steytlerville); E. Hankey (-DD), Smith 2910 (NBG); Kleinriver (-DD), Smith 7380 (NBG).  3325(Port Elizabeth): Enon (-BC), Bruyns in KG40/77 (NBG); 21km Port Elizabeth to Uitenhage (-CD), Smith 5820 (NBG); Addo (-DA), Barker 5090 (NBG), Smith 3549 (NBG); (-DC), Britten in PRE 34850; Swartkops (-DC), (BOL).  3326 (Grahamstown): Plutosvale (-BA), Marloth 5962 (PRE), Harcourt Wood in BOL20729, Britten in PRE 34891, NBG338/34, Smith 914, 1118 (NBG); Fort Brown (-BA), Smith 3512, 3825 (NBG); Glenelg (-BB), Smith 5406 (NBG); Ballinafad (-BB), Smith 5400, 5407 (NBG); E. Fish River (-BB), Smith 5409, 5410 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Near Grahamstown, Luyt in NBG304/45 (NBG); Albany dist, Britten in PRE 34892; ex hort, Simpson in NBG233/42, Peers in NBG34/36, Howard in NBG82/25, Meterlerkamp in NBG1450/29 (NBG), van der Merwe in NBG1696/29 (NBG), Marloth 4210, 5963 (PRE); Kingwilliamstown, Carter (BOL); Sandile Koppie, Grant & Blenkins in NBG2257/26 (BOL); Smith 617, 2822, 3225, Bayer 169 (NBG), Henderson 1399 (NBG).

  • Haworthia attenuata var. attenuata JDV90/42 Addo. The tubercles are conspicuously white on both leaf surfaces. The leaves have no fibres although viscid strands can be seen on breaking the leaves.
  • Haworthia attenuata var. attenuata MBB6831 Hankey. Not surprisingly the tubercles can be smaller and evenly spaced.

b. var. radula (Jacq.) Bayer comb.nov.  Haworthia radula (Jacq.) Haw., Syn.Pl.Succ. :8(1812).  Berger, Das Pflanzen. 38:94(1908).  Bayer :148(1976).  Bayer :71(1982).  Scott :19(1985).  Aloe radula Jacq., Hort.Schoenb. 4:11.t422(1804).  Salm-Dyck, Monogr. 6:t8(1834).  Type: icon, t422, Jacq., Hort.Schoenb.  Epitype (B&M): CAPE-3324 (Steytlerville): 1.5km E. Hankey (-DD), Smith 3190 (NBG).

radula: like a rasp.

1982 – H. radula is only known from the immediate vicinity of Hankey in the Humansdorp area where it grows together with H. attenuata.  There does not appear to be a random association, however, and the two species appear to be discrete in the small localised population as far as is known.  H. radula always has many minute crowded white tubercles in contrast to the larger fewer tubercles on the leaves of H. attenuata.  Despite the variability of the latter species there do not seem to be obvious intermediates between the two.  It is a very attractive plant in cultivation as the many tubercles give the plant a silvery appearance.

1999 – On reflection, some of the above comments are not strictly true.  There is some difficulty in deciding if a plant properly qualifies as ‘radula’ or not.  There is no evidence at all of range and distribution for the element outside of H. attenuata; perhaps even varietal rank is unnecessary.

Distribution: 3324 (Steytlerville): Sandland, 20 km E. of Patensie (‑DA), P.L. Perry 660 (NBG); Humansdorp (-DD), Marloth 5961 (PRE); Hankey (‑DD), Smith 3190, 7382 (NBG), Holland 4141 (PRE); 1.5km E. Hankey (-DD), Smith 2933, 3190 (NBG); 1.5km N. Hankey (-DD), Smith 3692 (NBG); 1.5km SE. Patensie (-DD), Smith 3182 (NBG).

Inadequately located: Cape, Marloth 10086 (PRE); ex hort, Buckland in NBG428/31 (BOL, NBG), Malherbe in NBG486/42 (NBG); Hansmeykraal, Fourcade 3550 (BOL).

  • Haworthia attenuata var. radula MBB6803. The tubercles are small and plentiful and the leaves thus appear scabrid rather than tuberculate.

Haworthia Revisited – 43. Haworthia bruynsii

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43. Haworthia bruynsii Bayer, JS.Afr.Bot 47:789(1981).  Bayer :64(1982).  Scott :135(1985).  Type: CAPE‑3324 (Steytlerville): SE. Steytlerville (‑AD), G.J. Rossouw 456 (NBG).

bruynsii: for P.V. Bruyns.

Rosette stemless, solitary, to 6cm φ.  Leaves 5-11, with flattened, retused end-area, opaque and slightly scabrid with small raised tubercles above.  Inflorescence simple, slender, florets sparse.  Flowers slender, tepals fused and with revolute tips.

1982 – H. bruynsii is the most remarkable discovery since H. truncata in 1910.  The general appearance of the plants and their locality immediately suggest H. springbokvlakensis.  However, the surface of the leaf-end areas is more scabrid and often more acutely margined as in some forms of H. emelyae.  The surprise comes in the inflorescence as the peduncle is long and wiry and the florets are singularly characteristic of the subgenus Hexangulares, i.e. six‑sided at the base, exposed mid‑ribs of inner perianth lobes, straight style and florets slowly spiralled on the peduncle.  Had only one plant been seen it may have been considered a hybrid of some kind.  However, H. bruynsii occurs at two distinct localities as is so far known, and there is no evidence of hybridisation.  The plants have only 5‑11 leaves when full grown, and they are sunken in the ground under small bushes in the same way as H. springbokvlakensis and also occurring with Lithops localis as in this species.

1999 – This species is now well-known southeast of Steytlerville and speculation about its relationships continues.  J.D. Venter has suggested that the affinity is with H. sordida.  This is plausible as that species does show signs of abbreviated leaves and the tendency towards a truncated end-area, in collections east of H. bruynsii localities.  H. sordida does, however, also occur in its normal large and erect form nearby at Springbokvlakte and also at Kleinpoort a little to the north.  The comparison with H. emelyae above should now read H. bayeri.

Distribution: 3324 (Steytlerville): SE. Steytlerville(‑AD), G.J. Rossouw 456 (NBG).

Haworthia bruynsii south-east of Springbokvlakte (3324 BC). Grows in close proximity to H. sordida var. lavranii.
Haworthia bruynsii JDV91/135 east of Sprinbokvlakte (3324 BD). Can have very attractive surface markings.
Haworthia brutnsii JDV91/123 Langveld (3324 AD). Often with an adhering dust layer.