Haworthia magnifica
| Haworthia magnifica | |
|---|---|
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| Haworthia magnifica in habitat. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Haworthia |
| Species: | H. magnifica |
| Binomial name | |
| Haworthia magnifica Poelln. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Haworthia magnifica is a species of the genus Haworthia belonging to the family Asphodelaceae.
It is popular as an ornamental in cultivation, especially in the form of its unique and colourful variety, "splendens".
Etymology
The genus name Haworthia honors the British botanist Adrian Hardy Haworth (1767–1833), while the species name "magnifica" derives from the Latin word “Magnificus” meaning "magnificent”.
Description
Haworthia magnifica is a succulent evergreen slow-growing species reaching a size of 40 cm in height. Its shape and brownish-greenish color serve to camouflage this plant on the ground. It is usually a solitary stemless plant. The leaves are approximately triangular, about 3,5 cm long, with longitudinal pale brown or greyish veines along the upper surfaces and small teeth along the edges. The leaves form a rosette of about 8 cm in diameter. Flowers are white and small, forming an inflorescence of about 40 cm.
This highly variable species is one of the "retuse" species of Haworthia, meaning that it usually grows sunken beneath the ground with its flattened leaves only showing on the surface. Its rosette of succulent leaves are turned back ("retuse") so as to provide a flat and level face, on the surface of the ground. In this form, it is similar to other retuse haworthias (e.g. Haworthia pygmaea, Haworthia bayeri, Haworthia springbokvlakensis, Haworthia mirabilis, Haworthia emelyae and Haworthia retusa).[1]
It can usually be distinguished from its relatives however, by its dark green (almost purple) leaves, which have a scabrous (rough) sub-tuberculate, slightly translucent surface, covered in faint, parallel lines.
Distribution
This species is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.[2]
Habitat
It grows on bushes and rocks at an altitude of about 220 meters.
Varieties
- Haworthia magnifica var. acuminata (M.B.Bayer) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia magnifica var. atrofusca (G.G.Sm.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia magnifica var. dekenahii (G.G.Sm.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia magnifica var. magnifica (autonym)
- Haworthia magnifica var. splendens J.D.Venter & S.A.Hammer
The type variety, Haworthia magnifica var. magnifica, in habitat
The "acuminata" variety, with its lighter colour and pointed, "acuminate" leaves
The very dark, rough-surfaced "atrofusca" variety
The ornate "splendens" variety, at the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genova Pegli
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. Welman, E. Reitief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. v. Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).
- Natl. Cact. Succ. J. 32: 18 (1977).
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