''Haworthia springbokvlakensis'' 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 mi ...

'' in the family

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 40 ...

, endemic to a very restricted area of 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 in

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 ...

Description

This is a "retuse" species of ''

'' and is easily confused with its relatives (e.g. '' Haworthia pygmaea'', ''

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'' 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 miniatu ...

'', ''

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

'', ''

Haworthia emelyae ''Haworthia emelyae'' (synonym with ''Haworthia picta'') is a species of the genus ''Haworthia'' in the family Asphodelaceae, endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Description This species is one of the ''"retuse"'' species of ' ...

'' 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 ...

''). It can be distinguished from its relatives though, by its very rounded leaf tips and its extremely swollen, turgid leaf faces. Rosettes are usually solitary, as the plant rarely forms offsets. It is very slow-growing.

Distribution

The natural range of this species is an arid area around the "Springbokvlakte" farm, in the

Province,

. It is grown in cultivation, but requires very well drained soil and minimal water. It can be propagated by leaf cuttings and seed, as it rarely offsets.

References

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