Haworthia cymbiformis

Haworthia cymbiformis
Haworthia cymbiformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Haworthia
Species: H. cymbiformis
Binomial name
Haworthia cymbiformis
(Haw.) Duval[1]

Haworthia cymbiformis is a species of the genus Haworthia in the family Asphodelaceae, endemic to the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.[1]

Description

Detail of inflorescence

Plants are small and grow clumps of rosettes of thick, fleshy, light green leaves. As one of the soft green group of Haworthias it is frequently confused with its relatives (e.g. Haworthia cooperi which shares a similar distribution range, as well as Haworthia mucronata and Haworthia marumiana to the west).

A distinctive feature is the soft, "boat-shaped" leaves ("cymbiformis" actually means "boat-shaped"). Its leaves are not recurved like the "retuse" Haworthias (e.g. Haworthia mirabilis or Haworthia retusa).

Another feature is that the leaves usually have transparent streaks around their tips. In the wild, the sun is very bright, and the plant grows mostly buried by sand with only these transparent tips above the ground.[2]

Distribution

The natural range of this species is in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Here is occurs roughly between Port Elizabeth and East London in the east.

This range closely matches that of its relative, Haworthia cooperi, and the two species interact, with H.cymboformis growing on the cliffs, and H.cooperi growing on the lowland plains.[3]

This is a summer rainfall region.[4]

Varieties[1]

  1. Haworthia cymbiformis var. cymbiformis
  2. Haworthia cymbiformis var. angustata Poelln.
  3. Haworthia cymbiformis var. incurvula (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
  4. Haworthia cymbiformis var. obtusa (Haw.) Baker
  5. Haworthia cymbiformis var. ramosa (G.G.Sm.) M.B.Bayer
  6. Haworthia cymbiformis var. setulifera (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
  7. Haworthia cymbiformis var. transiens (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Haworthia cymbiformis", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2012-12-22
  2. ↑ Plantzafrica page - Haworthia cymbiformis
  3. ↑ http://haworthiaupdates.org/volume-4-chapter-1-that-squadron-of-haworthias-from-albertinia-eastwards/
  4. ↑ Haworthia cymbiformis information page
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