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A More Scientific Description of Haworthias
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This genus comprises perhaps 70 to 90 species, depending on your authority. The plants are small, commonly between 1 to 6 centimeters across, but may be significantly larger if there are multiple offsets. They are mostly rosette shaped and there is considerable variation in form between members of the Genus and also, to a lesser extent of course, between populations of the same species. This latter is due to populations evolving separately often in small very circumscribed habitats. The fleshy leaves may be pointed or blunt, truncated or almost oval. Most are green but some are dark or may be almost transparent and may be covered with attractive markings or tuberculate.
The genus was named after an English Botanist, Adrian Haworth, by Henri Duval in 1809. Because of field variations there are (or were) some 400 species names for what is probably only in the region of 70 distinct plants. M B Bayer has attempted to make some sense out of this and has divided the Genus into three sub-genuses, based on flower types. These are:
Subgenus Haworthia (45 species) A diverse group varying widely in form - examples being H.arachnoidea, H.pulchella, H.retusa, H.truncata and H.zantneriana.
Subgenus Hexangulares (17 species - mostly stemless - examples: H.attenuata, H.coarctata, H.scabra and H.venosa.
Subgenus Robustipedunculares (5 species. This group differs from the previous two subgenuses in that the inflorescences are heavily branched. Examples are: H.marginata, H.minima and H.pumilla (one of the largest of the Haworthias).
The Society supports conservation and its policy is to make collecting from habitat unnecessary by making cultivated plants available to collectors via a plant exchange scheme and by making seed available. Many (but not all) of these plants offset readily, which aids propagation, and they may fairly easily be grown from seed, although some are slow growing.
In the wild they often grow within the shade of larger plants. They also often grow in cracks in rocks - which again provide shade and protection from grazing animals. They are well camouflaged and can often only be easily spotted in the flowering season when the long flower spike may give them away.
Species identification depends on appearance of the plant and its flower. The inter-relationships between the species, and also their genetic development, promotes much scientific discussion and articles. Others grow them simply because they like the plants.
There are other related genera within the scope of the Society. These are native to similar areas of South Africa and flourish in similar environments:-
- Aloes
- Astrolobas
- Gasterias
- Bulbines
Footnote: the illustration on this page (Haworthia "Vanity Fair" CC 3443) is from the article "Cocozza Cuttings: Haworthia Hybrids and Cultivars from the Cocozza Collection - Part 1" by Joyce Cocozza published in Haworthiad, Vol.16 No.1 (February 2002) p.23.
© The Haworthia Society 2007
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