Kingdom Plantae Clade Monocots Family Asphodelaceae Rank Species | Clade Angiosperms Order Asparagales Subfamily Asphodeloideae | |
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Similar Haworthia viscosa, Haworthia scabra, Haworthia coarctata, Haworthia reinwardtii, Haworthia venosa | ||
Haworthia nigra is a species of flowering succulent plant from the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.
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Description
H.nigra typically grows its leaves in three tiers (though some varieties have multifarious leaf arrangement). The leaves, which are a very dark green to brownish black, are covered in dark tubercles, and are packed densely along its stems.
Taxonomy
Within the genus Haworthia, the species forms part of the subgenus Hexangulares. More specifically, it falls within section Trifariae ("Three-tiered") together with its close relative Haworthia viscosa (and its other relatives Haworthia sordida, Haworthia scabra and Haworthia starkiana).
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 nigra".
Distribution
This species extends across the southern part of South Africa. The variety "diversifolia" occurs in the west of its range, in the Western Cape Province around Loeriesfontein. The type variety "nigra" occurs to the east of its range, in the Eastern Cape as far east as East London.
Within this range, it typically grows in very well-drained sandy soil, usually under a bush or rocks which serve as partial protection from the sun.
