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Haworthia emelyae comptoniana |
Etymology:
The
genus
name "Haworthia" is
named after the British botanist Adrian Hardy
Haworth (1767–1833)
The
species name
"emelyae" was named
after Mrs. Emely Ferguson, Riversdale, RSA
The
variety name
"comptoniana" was named
in honour of Prof. R.H. Compton. |
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Description: Generally
solitary, its
growth is almost entirely
subterranean, with only the leaves'
apex
exposed to the
atmosphere at the
soil level (see:
geophyte plants)
Stem:
Stemless rosette succulent.
Leaves: Broad triangular, (4-5cm long and 2cm wide at the
base). The
retuse leaf-end area is
pellucid and
reticulate with pale white-flecked "veins"
running into lines that converge at the apex.
These leaves form a
stemless
rosette that is 5-9 cm in diameter, up to 120
mm in cultivation,
with 15 to 20 leaves (plants in habitat
are barely 3 cm across!). The
reticulation and relative length of the leaves are quite
variable. The tops of the leaves near the centre of the plant
becomes reddish in
winter and in sunny expositions.
Flower:
2-lipped white with greenish veins, borne on a 20 cm tall
inflorescence.
Notes: The diversity between H. emelyae and this variety is
the smoothness and dimension of the plants, they are usually
smoother and larger sized. |
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Contractile roots pull the plant deeper into the
soil to protect the plant from
sun and
heat during the
dry season. |
Cultivation:
Watering Needs:
Easy to cultivate, it
needs
regular water.
Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection
required.
Minimum of 5º
C for safe growing (but hardy up to
-5°C.)
Sun Exposure: Requires light shade,
up
to bright light
(protect from direct sun)
Propagation:
Seeds, offsets, micropropagation.
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of
Haworthia emalyae:
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Family:
Asphodelaceae
(Aloacee - Liliaceae) |
Scientific Name:
Haworthia emelyae var. comptoniana
(G.G. Sm.) J.D. Venter &
S.A. Hammer
Locality:
West of Willowmore - road to De Rust
Habitat:
South Africa (Georgida), in the Willowmore District. This plant comes
from a very small area no larger than 10 by 15 metres in
quartz patches,
it often grows under stones. It is very rare in the field. |
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A
longitudinal section showing the
fenestrate
leaves with the
translucent
tissues.
The
leaf
tissues are
translucent or even
transparent
In a
half
shade (with a few hours of sun) the green
reticulated
fenestration of this plant
turn to a rich red-brown. Very nice!
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Cultivation and Mail Sale 
