Kingdom Plantae Clade Monocots Family Asphodelaceae Rank Species | Clade Angiosperms Order Asparagales Subfamily Asphodeloideae | |
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Similar Haworthia springbokvlakensis, Haworthia bayeri, Haworthia mucronata, Haworthia aristata, Haworthia chloracantha | ||
Haworthia bruynsii is a rare species of the genus Haworthia in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, endemic to a small area in the Eastern Cape Provinces in South Africa.
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Description
Haworthia bruynsii is a small, highly truncated species of Haworthia. It remains as a solitary rosette, rarely offsetting, and tends to grow slightly underground, with only the flat, truncated leaf tips appearing at the surface of the ground.
It looks very similar to the "retuse" Haworthias, with their characteristically truncated leaves, such as Haworthia springbokvlakensis which shares its habitat. However it can be distinguished by its brown to dark green colour, and its pad-like leaf tops, which are usually very rough (though occasional populations are smooth). It is extremely unusual in that - while it greatly resembles the "retuse" Haworthias - it is actually a member of the entirely different subgenus Hexangulares, and seems to be a case of parallel evolution in a similar environment. Recent phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that subgenus Hexangulares is actually relatively unrelated to other Haworthias (being more closely related to Gasterias. It will therefore comprise a new, separate genus, Haworthiopsis, and this species will accordingly become "Haworthiopsis bruynsii".
Distribution
This species occurs in a small area around the Springbokvlakte farm, in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It also occurs as far as the countryside south east of Steytlerville. Within this range, it occurs together with its close relative, Haworthia sordida, as well as Haworthia springbokvlakensis, Haworthia decipiens and Haworthia nigra
This is an arid area of summer rainfall. It tends to grow in shady, sheltered areas among rocks and underneath bushes - often covered in sand, pebbles and grit. It requires extremely well-drained soil.
Cultivation
A difficult plant to cultivate, H.bruynsii requires very specific conditions. It is a summer rainfall species, and therefore requires that what little water it receives is given over the summer. It tends to grow best in shaded positions, in extremely well-drained soil, and partially covered in sand or rocks.
It rarely offsets, so all propagation is by seed or by the rooting of leaf-cuttings.