''Haworthia emelyae'' (synonym with ''Haworthia picta'') is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of the genus ''

Haworthia ''Haworthia'' is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa ( Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa). Like the aloes, they are members of the subfamily Asphodeloideae and they generally resemble ...

'' in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Asphodelaceae Asphodelaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription has varied widely. In its current circumscription in the APG IV system, it includes about 4 ...

, endemic to the

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

Province in

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

Description

This species is one of the ''"retuse"'' species of ''

'', meaning that it usually grows sunken beneath the ground with its flattened leaves only showing on the surface. Its rosette of succulent leaves are turned back ("retuse") so as to provide a flat and level face, on the surface of the ground. In this form, it is similar to other retuse haworthias (e.g. ''

Haworthia retusa ''Haworthia retusa'' is a species of flowering plants of the genus ''Haworthia'' in the family Asphodelaceae, endemic to a very small area around Riversdale, in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Growing to tall and broad, it is a peren ...

'', '' Haworthia bayeri'', '' Haworthia springbokvlakensis'', '' Haworthia pygmaea'', ''

Haworthia mirabilis ''Haworthia mirabilis'' is a species of the genus ''Haworthia'' belonging to the family (biology), family Asphodelaceae. Etymology The genus name ''Haworthia'' honors the British botanist Adrian Hardy Haworth (1767–1833), while the species epi ...

'' and ''

Haworthia magnifica ''Haworthia magnifica'' is a species of the genus ''Haworthia'' belonging to the family Asphodelaceae. It is popular as an ornamental in cultivation, especially in the form of its unique and colourful variety, ''"splendens"''. Etymology The gen ...

''). A distinctive feature is the convex shape of the leaf faces. The faces appear to bulge upwards, with the leaf tips bent back downwards. Another distinctive feature is the flecked, speckled (often pink) vein markings on the leaf faces. These markings have made this species a very popular ornamental plant for cultivation.

Distribution

The natural range of this species is in the south-eastern part of the

Province,

. Here it occurs roughly between Oudtshoorn and Vanwykskraal.

References

emelyae Flora of the Cape Provinces Endemic flora of South Africa Garden plants {{Asphodelaceae-stub