Haworthia nigra

Haworthia nigra
Haworthia nigra var. nigra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asphodelaceae
Subfamily:	Asphodeloideae
Genus:	Haworthia
Species:	H. nigra
Binomial name
Haworthia nigra

Haworthia nigra is a species of flowering succulent plant from the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.

Description

The compact trifarious leaf arrangement of the western "diversifolia" variety

Detail of flowers

H.nigra typically grows its leaves in three tiers (though some varieties have multifarious leaf arrangement). The leaves, which are a very dark green to brownish black, are covered in dark tubercles, and are packed densely along its stems.

Taxonomy

Within the genus Haworthia, the species forms part of the subgenus Hexangulares. More specifically, it falls within section Trifariae ("Three-tiered") together with its close relative Haworthia viscosa (and its other relatives Haworthia sordida, Haworthia scabra and Haworthia starkiana).

Recent phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that subgenus Hexangulares is actually relatively unrelated to other Haworthias (being more closely related to Gasterias. It will therefore comprise a new, separate genus, Haworthiopsis, and this species will accordingly become "Haworthiopsis nigra".^[1][2]

Distribution

This species extends across the southern part of South Africa. The variety "diversifolia" occurs in the west of its range, in the Western Cape Province around Loeriesfontein. The type variety "nigra" occurs to the east of its range, in the Eastern Cape as far east as East London.

Within this range, it typically grows in very well-drained sandy soil, usually under a bush or rocks which serve as partial protection from the sun.

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References