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 | |
|---|---|
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| At the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genova Pegli | |
Scientific 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 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Etymology
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
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
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
- "Haworthiopsis tessellata", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2017-10-17
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).
External links
