Haworthia standeri - a unique species ?

Haworthia standeri was originally described as Haworthia integra var. standeri by J.M. (Essie) Esterhuizen in "Haworthiad Vol. 14 Issue 1 January 2000".

After two failed attempts by me to locate the plants at their type locality at Matjiesvlei NW of Calitzdorp, it was third time lucky for me during October 2009.

The area north of Calitzdorp.


I was most delighted to eventually find a few clones on a steep east facing slope. On previous attempts I had climbed up the wrong slopes, was pressed for time and also rather unsure if I indeed was exploring the correct hill, which incidentally should perhaps rather pass as a mountain, and has a rather peculiar steep westerly bare slope somewhat typical of Haworthia turgida habitats. The bare slope was too steep for me to ascend, but I did some exploration on it higher up it where the going was easier. I could not find any Haworthias there. Only the western and southern inclinations yielded some fruit.


The steep western slope. Gamka River in foreground.


The plants are a most interesting discovery by Mr. Esterhuizen and raise many questions regarding their origin.

Mr. Esterhuizen correctly refers to their rather 'neutral' appearance and the plants being somewhat reminiscent of H cymbiformis, H reddi, H turgida and some others.

Haworthia standeri is very proliferous, a feature less prominent in most Little Karoo species except for Haworthia asema which is found not many kilometers to the east in the Calitzdorp area. A link to the latter species can probably therefore not be ruled out. The general features and habitat of the plants however seem to contradict this relationship.


Haworthia standeri. Very proliferous and growing in shaded pockets.


A smaller clump. All the plants I found were associated with lichens.


Roots exposed. Haworthia standeri makes offsets from the base as well as from stolons from the roots.


The terrain is rather inaccessible and it was difficult to determine their local distribution without the risk of injury, but as far as I could assess the plants grow fairly high up on the mountain and are confined to a steep easterly slope and grow only in deep shaded pockets. This is a characteristic typical of Haworthia zantneriana, but there is no known link to the latter species which indeed is found a few hundred kilometers to the east in the Willowmore- Steytlerville area.

Habitat. The eastern slope is in the left side of the picture. Difficult terrain to climb.


Haworthia standeri has an almost uncanny resemblance to Haworthia reddii and cymbiformis which occur even further to the east with no known obvious links inbetween. Looking for a connection with Haworthia cymbiformis and relatives is tempting since the area north west of Calitzdorp could almost be mistaken for an Eastern Cape landscape. There is a large population of Euphorbia coerulescens which is totally adjunct and far removed from their normal distribution at Jansenville and surrounding areas. Even the (believed to be) Gasteria brachyphylla nearer the R62 has an odd tendency for the leaves to curve downwards reminding one of some Eastern Cape species.

Haworthia reddii from Waterdown Dam. Photograph: Ingo Breuer.


Haworthia standeri from Matjiesvlei. From the collection of and photographed by Ingo Breuer.


Haworthia standeri from Varsfontein - IB 3600. This locality I have not been to. Photographed by Ingo Breuer.


A possible link is to Haworthia rodinii (H turgida sensu Bayer) as the latter occurs some 100 km downstream in the Gouritz River area. Certain leaf markings seem to indicate a connection. Plants from the Haworthia turgida group are however more succulent than the Haworthia standeri I have seen. Some illustrations in Mr Esterhuizen's article however show some Haworthia standeri specimens that are of similar succulence as H turgida. I could not find such plants.

The relationship to Haworthia scottii (Gamka East - H arachnoidea sensu Bayer) and Haworthia rycroftiana (H integra sensu Breuer) is a tough one. The rather proliferous nature of H rycroftiana perhaps fits the picture partly but that of H scottii less so. It does appear that the Gamka East form of Haworthia scottii ( and perhaps also H rycroftiana) has some affinity towards Haworthia arachnoidea. A link between Haworthia standeri and Haworthia arachnoidea at Matjiesvlei however seems to be very unlikely.

A mere 5 meters from the first clump of Haworthia standeri I found was a translucent solitary Haworthia arachnoidea/joubertii form, growing semi-exposed in totally different micro-habitat than Haworthia standeri. The H arachnoidea/joubertii form is sparsely distributed more to the southern side of the mountain which is not so steep and the plants have no resemblance to Haworthia standeri. Haworthia viscosa and Bijlia tugwelliae ( a unique large form), also occur on this mountain. Incidentally the H arachnoidea/joubertii becomes more ‘proper’ Haworthia arachnoidea a kilometer or so towards the south.


A Haworthia arachnoidea/joubertii form. Attractive plants, some growing in close association with Haworthia standeri but more exposed.


In my opinion it makes sense to keep Haworthia standeri as a distinct species. Notwithstanding its morphology and possible links to others, it may be better to avoid complexities and the constant shifting of association that so easily leads to a communication nightmare.


Viewpoint from the western slope. Gamka River below and the Swartberg in the background. Much more needs to be explored.

Footnote: Some months after I posted this, I observed that H standeri flowers in February and March. This corresponds with flowering time of  H zantneriana. No other possible relatives mentioned in this post flower during that time.

Reference

Esterhuizen, J.M. A new variety of Haworthia integra from Calitzdorp.Haworthiad. Vol 14 Issue 1-January 2000.

Haworthia marxii. South east of Laingsburg

Haworthia marxii is probably one of the most interesting recent discoveries of Haworthia.

The plants were documented by J.D. Venter several years ago, as Haworthia bayeri "Rooinek Pass". The latter refers to a mountain pass south-east of Laingsburg. This given locality for Haworthia bayeri has always seemed questionable as:

1. Rooinek Pass is north of the Swartberg in the western Great Karoo, a vast arid expanse where no retuse Haworthia has ever been recorded.

2. The most westerly known distribution of Haworthia bayeri is in the Oudtshoorn district, which lies south of the Swartberg in the Little Karoo. This leaves a gap of some 140 km between the Rooinek Pass Haworthia and the nearest known Haworthia bayeri and more than 70 km from any other retuse Haworthia ( which is a form of Haworthia maraisii from near Barrydale).


Gerhard Marx and Martin Scott were the first to re-explore the area and when the plants were eventually found it quickly became clear that the plant J.D. Venter referred to is actually a new species, the only retuse Haworthia known from the western Great Karoo, and many kilometers removed from any other retuse Haworthia !

The rather attractive plants were then described by Sean Gildenhuys as Haworthia marxii ( ALOE 44:1: 2007, p. 4 -8).

At first glance, especially during times of drought, Haworthia marxii does have some resemblance to Haworthia bayeri.

In habitat both species have the "muddy" appearance of the leaf epidermis. This is where the similarity ends however. The following differences between the two species are noteworthy:

While H bayeri normally contracts with its leaves deep into the soil, Haworthia marxii is a shallow growing plant. H bayeri has thick fleshy roots similar to H truncata, whereas Haworthia marxii has thin roots. Haworthia marxii has white little dots in the leaf windows similar to Haworthia picta. This feature is absent in Haworthia bayeri. The leaves of Haworthia marxii are also flatter with the tips ending in a sharper point.

Furthermore, the flowering peduncles of Haworthia marxii are very thin compared to the thicker ones of Haworthia bayeri. The flowering period, February, is also considerably later than that of Haworthia bayeri and one rather unusual aspect of Haworthia marxii is that the plants grow in rock crevices on steep sandstone mountain slopes at an altitude of about 1000 meters. Haworthia bayeri occurs on lower hillsides amongst ferricrete pebbles.

There is little doubt that Haworthia marxii is a good species. It is also a very important discovery as it now opens the door for possible other retuse Haworthias to be discovered in the Great Karoo !

Haworthia marxii proved to be difficult in cultivation and is very slow growing from seed.


Haworthia marxii in habitat growing amongst sandstone. The plants do not withdraw into the soil.


Haworthia marxii, a slight resemblance to Haworthia bayeri.


Haworthia marxii amongst lichens at high altitude.


Haworthia marxii. Lanceolate leaf showing white dots.


Haworthia marxii flower on thin peduncle.

Notice: 19 February 2012: A recent revision by Bruce M Bayer, regarding Haworthia marxii as synonymous with Haworthia emelyae (picta) is very surprising as the plants do not occur in the geographic area of Haworthia emelyae (sensu Bayer) and are obviously very different. This raises questions about objectivity and proper analysis.

Notice: 11 July 2012: Recently  Mr. Bayer has accepted Haworthia marxii as a good species. The reasons for its initial inclusion under Haworthia emelyae (picta) will not be mentioned here.

Haworthia kingiana - Great Brak River

Although the plants grow amongs thick shrub, they are fairly easy to spot because of their relatively large size and bright light green color.




Haworthia kingiana can grow up to about 18 cm tall with thick and wide attenuate leaves. The photographs are from the type locality. Haworthia kingiana is localized in a rather small area that has diminished considerably in size due to urban development. Fortunately a very similar looking form has been discovered in the Glentana area.



Haworthia kingiana in habitat.


This Haworthia is easy to grow from seed in our climate in the Little Karoo, but apparently more difficult elsewhere.

Haworthia helmiae

Previously regarded as Haworthia outeniquensis (Bayer), Ingo Breuer regards these plants as the previously described Haworthia helmiae.





There is a notable difference between these plants and H outeniquensis from the Robertson Pass, which are found some 40 km to the east of this locality. H helmiae has broader leaves then H outeniquensis. One would assume that more localities of similar plants exist in the Outeniqua mountain range, and that this species probably does link with H outeniquensis and perhaps others.





The Outeniqua mountains are largely unexplored due to the fact that the main roads usually keep a considerable distance from the mountain.


Haworthia helmiae in habitat growing amongst pine needles. The pine forest is a plantation. It seems that the plants are perfectly happy with this human intervention.

Haworthia truncata variety minor South of Dysselsdorp

The plants are small and are usually well hidden under bushes or debris (old leaves, twigs etc). This makes them very difficult to find.

Haworthia truncata variety minor

Haworthia truncata variety minor is found along a stretch of about 2 km with non-hairy plants to the western side of its distribution, and hairy forms to the east. The non-hairy forms occur scattered over a large area. Some isolated plants or groups of plants in the western distribution are of "normal" size, making the distinction between the variety minor and the normal variety a bit blurry. The hairy forms are all small.


Haworthia truncata variety minor

This locality is only a few km to the south of the robust Dysselsdorp truncata, VDV120. This once again highlights major changes that can occur over a short distance. Haworthia tuberculata is found in very close proximity to the hairy forms. The hairy truncata is a rare, choice plant in collections. It does not seem to flower as prolifically as some other truncata, and seed production in nature tends to be rather skimpy.

Haworthia truncata - North of Dysslesdorp

Haworthia truncata variety truncata (VDV 120) are robust growers. The older plants sucker quite prolifically.


Haworthia truncata

Many plants have attractive irregular leaf edges, while others are smoother. There is great variation within the population.



Haworthia truncata




Haworthia truncata.
The top of this plant was damaged by grazing predators. Somewhat shrunken after the long summer heat, these plants often recover quickly after a good autumn rain.



Habitat.

Like most H truncata the plants prefer areas of brown ferri-crete stone (Afrikaans: ysterklip).

Haworthia tesselata North - East of Carnarvon

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Some of Gerhard Marx's finest cultivars will be on auction as from 10 June 2009 as well as the first Haworthia marxii

Haworthia tesselata occurs widespread in the arid Karoo regions. It is not a common plant however. The plants prefer to grow protected in the shade of bushes. It has some affinity with Haworthia venosa but is geographically well separated from the latter, although Mr Bruce Bayer refers to some linking forms.

When well protected, the plants can form large clumps.


Some of the plants have attractive white markings.


Habitat
.

Haworthia variegata - Swartklip

Haworthia variegata.

The plants grow typically partly subterranean . Haworthia variegata from Swartklip is an attractive from with clear white spots and prominent teeth. The locality is not very well known and to my knowledge represents the most easterly distribution of the species.

Haworthia variegata.

Most of the plants have the typical rather soft leaved texture of Haworthia variegata. In some plants the leaves are of a harder texture - somewhat like Haworthia minima.

Haworthia variegata
habitat.

I am not placing this form under any of the presently accepted varieties for now.

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Haworthia decipiens variety decipiens West of Prince Albert

Haworthia decipiens variety decipiens has a wide distribution from west of Prince Albert to around Steytlerville and Jansenville.





The plants from the Prince Albert area are mostly found on the southern slopes of hillsides, but also on minor elevations with a northern or other inclination. They prefer a stony habitat and are normally sheltered by bushes.


Certain plants from the Steytlerville area look very similar to the Prince Albert forms, although their habitat is seperated by a few hundred kilometers.


There are many different looking plants in between these extremes of habitat that have been included in Haworthia decipiens thus far by certain authors.It likely that these should belong elsewhere.


An old photograph of the Prince Albert entrance to the Swartberg Pass. Not far behind the photographer is a colony of Haworthia decipiens. On the nearby slopes of The Swartberg are Haworthia marumiana and further on some colonies of plants that have characteristics of both Haworthia maruminana and Haworthia arachnoidea.

Haworthia chloracantha variety denticulifera - Johnson's Post Gouritz River

In contrast with the smooth yellow-green variety chloracantha from Herbertsdale, the variety denticulifera has small teeth on the leaves and the plants are mostly dark green.





At this specific locality at the Gouritz river the plants co-exist with Haworthia acuminata, sometimes sharing the same bush.





They form large clumps and are usually protected under bushes. I have found some plants years ago that were growing in the open, appearing almost black in colour.


Haworthia chloracantha left of middle, and Haworthia acuminata, middle and right under the same bush. The flowers are from Haworthia acuminata.






Voelvlei (Bird lake), near the Gouritz River, is a shallow lake that catches rainwater from the nearby embankments. The area is rich in succulents, e.g. Gasteria carinata, Aloe ferox, Aloe speciosa , Aloe arborescens and numerous hybrids , Euphorbia aff fimbriata and Adromischus are found there abundantly. Less abundantly a Huernia species and other relatives of Stapelia. Haworthia acuminata and Haworthia chloracantha appear only in a few isolated areas. Somewhere near the mountains on the far horizon is the only known locality of Haworthia esterhuizenii.

All images are the property of Izimakana Industries. Your source of Hoodia gordonii, Haworthia and Succulent Plants.

Haworthia acuminata - Johnson's Post

This locality is only a few km to the north of the type locality of Haworthia acuminata near the Gouritz River. The plants are very similar to the plants at the type locality, the only notable difference is the colour of the leaves and the tendency for some plants to be semi-retuse. The plants from the type locality are a brownish green whereas the plants from Johnson's Post are light green.

The habitat is in two parts: A small population in dense brush on a little outcropping, and a fairly large population on a relatively bare slope of a hill next to the outcropping. The plants at both areas are similar, but the habitat of the low outcropping is similar to the habitat of the type locality where the plants are hidden under the bushes and grow in pebbly soil.


The low outcropping.


Plants protected under shrub on the outcropping.



The bare hill slope.

As one ascends the bare hill, large clumps of Haworthia acuminata are exposed to the full sun in clay soil, very similar to Haworthia turgida in habitat. Some of the exposed plants are less retuse then others.





Large clumps on the bare slope.





It was my second visit to this locality, the first time being probably 12 years ago or more. A white/silver speckled form which grows only a few hills to the north I could not find this time. I do have some plants in cultivation and will place some photographs of this rather attractive form later.



The plants are light green in colour. In cultivation the reddish brown colour disappears.


Some plants are semi-retuse.

All images are the property of Izimakana Industries. Your source of Hoodia gordonii, Haworthia and Succulent Plants.

All images are the property of Izimakana Industries. Your source of Hoodia gordonii, Haworthia and Succulent Plants.