haworthia-heroldia

Haworthia heroldia - (Dr. M Hayashi),

Ingo Breuer previously accepted Haworthia helmiae as the plants that occur close to Herold at the foot of the Outeniqua mountains in the Southern Cape. The original images of the type corresponded well with these plants. The localities of Great Brak River and Doring River George for the original collections are vague however as similar plants have not been found there in recent years. It is therefore advisable to give the plants from Herold a new name.

It is one of many Haworthia species that have enough unique characteristics to be a species in their own right, but also show affinity with other species. M. B. Bayer for instance regards these plants as a form of Haworthia outeniquensis.The latter occurs some 40 km to the east in the Robertson Pass. There are similarites between these two species, but also notable differences. For one H heroldia has broader and softer leaves then H outeniquensis Both are clump forming species however that flower around February and probably belong in the same aggregate, an aggregate that may even extent further west to Riviersonderend and include plants like Haworthia elizeae .

Their locality is somewhat odd as they grow in a human introduced pine forest. The plants seem perfectly happy with this arrangement however.

So far Haworthia heroldia, seems very localised. The plants were once plentiful but have diminished considerably due to a forest fire and subsequent clearing activities.

One would assume that more localities of similar plants exist in the Outeniqua mountain range, and that this species probably does link with Haworthia outeniquensis and perhaps others.

Reference: Ingo Breuer. The World of Haworthias, Vol 1 + 2. Ingo Breuer. Arbeitskreis für Mammillarienfreunde e.V. 1998.


Haworthia heroldia in habitat amongst pine needles near Herold.