Haworthiopsis tessellata

Haworthiopsis tessellata, formerly Haworthia tessellata, is a species of the genus Haworthiopsis belonging to the family Asphodelaceae. It has been considered a subspecies of its close relative, Haworthiopsis venosa.

Haworthiopsis tessellata
At the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genova Pegli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Tribe: Aloeae
Genus: Haworthiopsis
Species:
H. tessellata
Binomial name
Haworthiopsis tessellata
(Haw.) G.D.Rowley[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Haworthia tessellata Haw.
  • Aloe tessellata (Haw.) Schult. & Schult.f.
  • Catevala tessellata (Haw.) Kuntze
  • Haworthia venosa subsp. tessellata (Haw.) M.B.Bayer
  • Haworthia venosa var. tessellata (Haw.) Halda

Etymology

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The genus name Haworthiopsis means "like Haworthia", which honors the British botanist Adrian Hardy Haworth (1767–1833), while the species Latin epithet tessellata means "square-patterned".

Description

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Haworthiopsis tessellata is a succulent evergreen slow-growing species reaching a size of 15 cm in height. It is a stemless plant, with square patterned leaves on the upper surfaces and small teeth along the margins. The leaves are greenish, form a rosette and turn to reddish in full sun. The flowers are white and small, in an inflorescence.

It is extremely closely related to Haworthiopsis granulata (restricted to the far south-west of its range near Laingsburg) and to Haworthiopsis venosa (a species restricted to a spot on the south coast of South Africa).

Distribution and habitat

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This widespread species can be found in the arid hinterland of South Africa. Its habitat is the dry, summer-rainfall Karoo, where it grows within bushes and in rocky areas. It occurs as far north as southern Namibia.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Haworthiopsis tessellata", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2017-10-17

Bibliography

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  • 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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