''Haworthiopsis coarctata'', formerly ''Haworthia coarctata'', is a species of flowering succulent plant from the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

Province,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

and naturalized in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

. It is one of the species of ''

Haworthiopsis ''Haworthiopsis'' is a genus of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae. The genus was previously included in ''Haworthia''. Species in the genus are typically short perennial plants, with leaves often arranged in a rosette and frequent ...

'' that is commonly cultivated as an ornamental.

Description

''H. coarctata'' grows in large clumps in its natural habitat, with long stems packed with robust succulent leaves. It is normally dark green but sometimes acquires a rich purple-red when in full sunlight. It is frequently confused with ''

Haworthiopsis reinwardtii ''Haworthiopsis reinwardtii'', formerly ''Haworthia reinwardtii'', is a species of succulent flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae, native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is one of the species of ''Haworthiopsis'' that is c ...

'', which occurs just to the east of its natural range. However ''H. coarctata'' has smaller, smoother and rounder tubercles on its leaves (those of ''H.reinwardtii'' are sometimes larger, flatter and whiter). ''H. coarctata'' also usually has much wider, fatter leaves.Haworthia coarctata - Information page at Haworthia-Gasteria
/ref>

Forms and varieties

This is a variable species, and several forms and varieties are recognised. Several are listed below: * ''H. coarctata'' var. ''adelaidensis'' (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer; longer narrower leaves than type * ''H. coarctata'' var. ''coarctata''; the type variety * ''H. coarctata'' f. ''chalwinii'' Haw.; leaves abnormally wide * ''H. coarctata'' f. ''greenii'' (Baker) M.B.Bayer; smooth leaves with tubercles mostly absent * ''H. coarctata'' f. ''tenuis'' (G.G.Sm.) M.B.Bayer; narrow stems and thinner leaves

Cultivation

''Haworthia coarctata'' has received the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

. File:Haworthia coarctata var greenii - Robertson RSA.jpg, ''H. coarctata'' var. ''greenii'' File:Haworthia coarctata var chalwinii.jpg, ''H. coarctata'' var. ''chalwinii'' File:Haworthia coarctata var tenuis 1.jpg, ''H. coarctata'' var. ''tenuis'' File:Haworthia coarctata var bellula.jpg, The dwarfed ''"bellula"'' form.

References

*Haw., Phil. Mag. J. 66: 301 (1824). *''The Complete Book of Cacti and Succulents'', By Terry Hewitt {{Taxonbar, from1=Q58927106, from2=Q247770 coarctata Endemic flora of South Africa Plants described in 1824 Garden plants