Haworthia Cooperi Var. Picturata

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in biology, Haworthia Cooperi Var. Picturata (Latin:Haworthia cooperi var. picturata (M.B.Bayer) M.B.Bayer) is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae. The native range of this variety is S. Cape Prov. It is a succulent perennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Haworthia cooperi var. picturata is a small stemless succulent that may grow vigorously into a large clump. This variety of Haworthia cooperi has much rounding or squatness to the pale yellowish-green leaves that are variable even in the same rosette. The inflorescence is a simple lax raceme bearing about 20 flowers, of which four may be open at a time. Flowers are white with a hint of pink and appear in late spring and early summer.

Plants dwarf-sized, neatly rosulate, prolific from base, forming small rounded clusters up to 80 mm in diameter and consisting of up to 12 heads. Rosettes about 35 mm in diameter. Roots grey, terete, up to 4 mm in diameter. Leaves up to 25, soft, oblanceolate, ascending-spreading; apices translucent, striate, obtuse or acute, mucronate; upper side flat to channelled or slightly convex, lower surface cymbiform; surface smooth, green, becoming pinkish green during dry periods; margin entire. Inflorescence racemose, 150–350 mm long, 8–12-flowered in distal half; bracts white, clasping, up to 3 mm long, ovate-acuminate; pedicels 2 mm long. Perianth tubular, curved, ascending-spreading, 15 mm long, white purplish with green mid-stripe. Fruit 8 × 2.5 mm. Seed oblong, 2 × 1 mm, grey brown. Flowering is mainly from spring to early summer (October–November). Seeds are dispersed by wind in summer and early autumn.

Haworthia cooperi var. picturata is widespread in the Grootrivier System which includes the Kouga River, Baviaanskloof River and Grootrivier (meaning ‘great river’), a region within the Cape Fold Mountains, with a very diverse terrain at an altitude of between 400–1 000 m. The habitat consists of mainly south-facing, quartzitic sandstone cliffs (light-coloured and smooth-textured), of the Peninsula Formation (Cape Supergroup). The substrate has many ledges, crevices and fissures and is ideal for establishment of plants.

Plants are firmly rooted in crevices. Temperatures in summer are high (35–40°C). Winters are cooler but frost is absent. The average daily maximum temperature is about 27°C and the average daily minimum is about 12°C. Rainfall occurs throughout the year but with a peak in spring and summer, ranging from 300–400 mm per annum, in the form of thunder showers or cyclonic winter rain. Plants also grow at Enon, near Kirkwood, on Enon Conglomerate cliffs.

Homotypic Synonyms

Haworthia gracilis var. picturata M.B.Bayer

Haworthia picturata (M.B.Bayer) M.Hayashi

Heterotypic Synonyms

Haworthia oculata M.Hayashi