Haworthia kingiana
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| Haworthia kingiana in cultivation in Cape Town, South Africa. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Haworthia |
| Species: | H. kingiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Haworthia kingiana (Poelln.) | |
Haworthia kingiana is a species of Haworthia succulent plant, from the Western Cape, South Africa. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN global Red List
Description and taxonomy
It is an evergreen succulent plant with short, sharp, bright green leaves arranged in rosettes. The yellowish-green leaves have rounded, flat, white tubercles (though in some varieties these are absent). The plant gradually produces offsets, and can form clumps.
In November and December it produces pink-white flowers.
Haworthia kingiana is a variable species, with different populations and varieties, differing in the leaf shape, colour, growth form and tubercles. Among Haworthia species it is classed with the other large species (H.maxima, H.minima & H.marginata) in the "Robustipedunculares" subgenus. Following recent phylogenetic studies, it has been shown that these four species in fact constitute a distinct out-group, separate from other Haworthias. It has therefore been proposed to class them as a separate genus, "Tulista".[1]
Distribution
The natural distribution of this species is a small area centred on Mossel Bay, in the far south of the Cape, South Africa. Its population is very sparse in this area, and its natural range extends from as far east as Great Brak, to Herbetsdale in the West. Its habitat is usually renosterveld and grassland patches in valley bushveld.
In the wild the plant is threatened by illegal collecting and overgrazing by cattle, and it is now very rare.[2]
Cultivation
It is difficult in cultivation, and is both long-lived and slow growing. It prefers well-drained soil. The plant slowly offsets, so propagation can be by off-sets, by leaf-cuttings, or by seed.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haworthia kingiana. |
References
- ↑ Manning, J.C., Boatwright, J.S., Daru, B.H., Maurin, O. and Van der Bank, M. 2014. A molecular phylogeny and generic classification of Asphodelaceae subfamily Alooideae: A final resolution of the prickly issue of polyphyly in the Alooids?. Systematic Botany 39(1):55-74.
- ↑ Haworthia kingiana on SANBI Redlist