Haworthia

Distribution:

Africa: South Africa: Western Cape:

Haworthia enigma Dr. M. Hayashi, Although this species has been known for some time and has been cultivated for a number of years there seems to be some confusion about what Haworthia enigma really is. M.B. Bayer makes some reference to this species in Haworthia Updates but the article does not seem to refer to the correct plant. Jakub Jilemnicky's photograph in All you wanted to know about Haworthia and Gasteria refers to the correct species. The plants are found on a low northerly slope en route Korrenterivier west of Riversdale. Haworthia enigma is often a very attractive plant when found in the wild with its blackish red colour. In cultivation the colour becomes a blackish green. Their closest relative appears to be Haworthia atrofusca but the plants are larger and lack the somewhat acuminate leaf of the latter. Both have mostly rounded leaf tips however. I agree fully with Dr. M Hayashi to make it a separate species. The plants maybe linked to Haworthia magnifica (or mirabilis for that matter), but lumping them will just increase the major communication difficulties we already have in the genus. The habitat pic was unfortunately taken with an old low resolution Mavica camera, but it should give some idea. Higher resolution pics by Gerhard Marx.

Haworthia enigma habitat.	Haworthia enigma in habitat.

	A mature cultivated plant.

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