Haworthia


Haworthia groenewaldii
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Distribution: Africa: South Africa: Western Cape:


Summary of Haworthia groenewaldii (I. Breuer) written by Mr. Gerhard Marx.

Probably one of the most exciting and unique finds in recent years and, most surprising of all, within such a well-explored area as the Overberg which has been explored since the late 1700’s!, H. groenewaldii was discovered by university student Jannie Groenewald where he found the plants growing amongst grass and riverine conglomerate quartzite pebbles on his family’s farm south-east of Buffeljagsrivier near Swellendam.

While some of the plain and unmarked plants can remind one to some degree of a small H. springbokvlakensis, many of the plants have numerous cloudy white flecks and lines in the windows, reminiscent somewhat of similar features occasionally found in H. mutica. However, the relationship with H. mutica is rather superficial as the late summer flowering habit, fish tail buds and typical H. mirabilis -like flowers link this very unique element closest to the H. mirabilis-magnifica group. The plants are further characterized by having very rounded leaf-ends and the skin texture resembles a shiny miniature shark-skin surface. At the type locality east of the Breede River near Buffeljagsrivier they display such a unique combination of features that one feels tempted to compare this Haworthia to alone-standing species like H. marxii and H. springbokvlakensis. However, a few km to the east along the border of the Bontebok Park, the plants re-occur in more varied sizes and shapes and start resembling H. magnifica and even H. atrofusca to some extent. At the type locality H. groenewaldii is the only Haworthia found but west of the Buffeljagsrivier they grow amongst populations of H. floribunda, a small maraisii-like H. mirabilis as well as H. minima and a unique spring flowering form or variety of H. marginata. A few natural hybrids between H. groenewaldii and H. mirabilis and also H. floribunda have been observed. H. groenwaldii has recently also been found within the borders of the Bontebok National Park.


Haworthia groenewaldii Haworthia groenewaldii Haworthia groenewaldii Haworthia groenewaldii
A number of the plants do not have prominent white spots. Leaf texture. Habitat.
Haworthia groenewaldii
A fine example of an attractive white spotted specimen.



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