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Accepted Scientific Name: Haworthia mirabilis (Haw.) Haw.
Syn. Pl. Succ. 95. 1812
(RIB0367 south of Bredasdorp, on the road to Struisbaai)
Origin and Habitat: Republic of South Africa (Western Cape: South-West of Bredasdorp near Mierkraal).
Synonyms:
- Haworthia mirabilis (Haw.) Haw.
- Aloe mirabilis Haw.
- Apicra mirabilis (Haw.) Willd.
- Catevala mirabilis (Haw.) Kuntze
- Haworthia retusa var. mirabilis (Haw.) Halda
Haworthia mirabilis (Haw.) Haw.
Syn. Pl. Succ. 95. 1812
Synonymy: 9
- Haworthia mirabilis (Haw.) Haw.
- Aloe mirabilis Haw.
- Apicra mirabilis (Haw.) Willd.
- Catevala mirabilis (Haw.) Kuntze
- Haworthia retusa var. mirabilis (Haw.) Halda
- Haworthia mirabilis subs. mundula (G.G.Sm.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mundula G.G.Sm.
- Haworthia multifaria Haw.
- Aloe multifaria (Haw.) Schult.f.
Haworthia mirabilis var. badia (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
Haworthia Revisited 109 (1999)
Synonymy: 3
- Haworthia mirabilis var. badia (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia badia Poelln.
- Haworthia mirabilis subs. badia (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
Haworthia mirabilis var. beukmannii (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
Haworthia Revisited 110 (1999)
Synonymy: 4
- Haworthia mirabilis var. beukmannii (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia beukmanii (Poelln.) M.Hayashi
- Haworthia emelyae var. beukmannii Poelln.
- Haworthia mirabilis f. beukmannii (Poelln.) Pilbeam
Haworthia mirabilis var. calcarea M.B.Bayer
Haworthia Revisited 110 (1999)
Synonymy: 3
- Haworthia mirabilis var. calcarea M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia calcarea (M.B.Bayer) M.Hayashi
- Haworthia rossouwii var. calcarea (M.B.Bayer) M.B.Bayer
Haworthia mirabilis var. consanguinea M.B.Bayer
Haworthia Revisited 111 (1999).
Synonymy: 2
- Haworthia mirabilis var. consanguinea M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia consanguinea (M.B.Bayer) M.Hayashi
Haworthia mirabilis var. paradoxa (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
Aloe 34(1-2): 6 (1997)
Synonymy: 3
- Haworthia mirabilis var. paradoxa (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia maraisii var. paradoxa (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia paradoxa Poelln.
Haworthia mirabilis var. sublineata (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
Haworthia Revisited 113 (1999)
Synonymy: 3
- Haworthia mirabilis var. sublineata (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mirabilis f. sublineata (Poelln.) Pilbeam
- Haworthia triebneriana var. sublineata Poelln.
Haworthia mirabilis var. triebneriana (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
Haworthia Revisited 113 (1999)
Synonymy: 14
- Haworthia mirabilis var. triebneriana (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia triebneriana Poelln.
- Haworthia mirabilis f. napierensis (W.Triebner & Poelln.) Pilbeam
- Haworthia triebneriana var. napierensis W.Triebner & Poelln.
- Haworthia mirabilis f. rubrodentata (W.Triebner & Poelln.) Pilbeam
- Haworthia triebneriana var. rubrodentata W.Triebner & Poelln.
- Haworthia nitidula Poelln.
- Haworthia rossouwii Poelln.
- Haworthia triebneriana var. depauperata Poelln.
- Haworthia triebneriana var. multituberculata Poelln.
- Haworthia triebneriana var. pulchra Poelln.
- Haworthia triebneriana var. subtuberculata Poelln.
- Haworthia triebneriana var. turgida W.Triebner
- Haworthia willowmorensis Poelln.
Description: Haworthia mirabilisSN|16714]]SN|16666]] is a slow growing species that stay usually solitary but that can occasionally proliferates after several years and when properly grown it is very decorative. The superlative epithets of this variety (mirabilis = worthy of admiration) give a hint of the exquisite beauty of this plant, that shows shades of bronze-rose in half shade culture.
Related species: Haworthia mirabilisSN|13271]]SN|16666]] is related and intergrade in habitat with Haworthia magnificaSN|16666]]SN|13271]] and Haworthia maraisiiSN|16666]]SN|16714]] in the East.
Rosettes: Stemless, with 8-15 leaves, to 5-7 cm in diameter, slowly proliferous.
Leaves: 3-4 cm long, up to 1,5 cm thick, dark green, lanceolate, markedly retuse, tips recurved and acute, face somewhat translucent with a prominent central line extending almost to the tip and 2 shorter lines, lower surface with tubercles, marginal spines white turning reddish in sun. Terminal bristle to 1 cm.
Inflorescence: Wiry, slender up to 25 cm tall.
Flowers: Narrowly elongate, bud S-shaped. Petals pinched at tips.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Haworthia mirabilis group
- Haworthia mirabilis (Haw.) Haw.: has slowly proliferous rosettes to 5-7 cm in diameter. Leaves: 3-4 cm long retuse translucent with a prominent central and 2 shorter lines. Distribution: Western Cape, S-W of Bredasdorp.
- Haworthia mirabilis var. badia (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer: is a slow growing plant with leaves like thick gelatin. With some sun exposure it takes exquisite shades of chestnut brown. Distribution: Napier, Western Cape.
- Haworthia mirabilis var. beukmannii (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mirabilis var. calcarea M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mirabilis var. consanguinea M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mirabilis subs. mundula (G.G.Sm.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mirabilis f. napierensis (W.Triebner & Poelln.) Pilbeam
- Haworthia mirabilis var. paradoxa (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mirabilis f. rubrodentata (W.Triebner & Poelln.) Pilbeam
- Haworthia mirabilis var. sublineata (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
- Haworthia mirabilis var. triebneriana (Poelln.) M.B.Bayer
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Gordon D. Rowley “The illustrated encyclopedia of succulents” Crown Publishers, 01/Aug/1978
2) Dieter J. Von Willert “Life strategies of succulents in deserts: with special reference to the Namib desert” CUP Archive, 1992
3) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons” Springer, 2001
4) Charles L. Scott “The genus Haworthia (Liliaceae): a taxonomic revision” Aloe Books, 1985
5) Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Pteridophyta, Gymbospermae, Angiospermae-Monocotyledons” Cambridge University Press, 1984
6) M. B. Bayer “The new Haworthia handbook” National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, 1982
7) John Pilbeam “Haworthia and Astroloba: A Collector's Guide” B. T. Batsford Limited, 1983
8) Bruce Bayer “Haworthia revisited: a revision of the genus” Umdaus Press, 1999
Cultivation and Propagation: Haworthia mirabilisSN|16666]]SN|16666]] is one of the choicest but slow growing of the retuse-leaved haworthias.
Watering needs: It needs regular water but do not water again until dry. Also, it is a species that is dormant in the winter and require very little water (maybe even none) during the cold months.
Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection required. Minimum of 5ºC for safe growing (but hardy up to -5°C or less.)
Sun Exposure: Some shade is also in order, as the plants grows typically under the protection of bushes. Can be sunburned if moved from shade/greenhouse into full sun too quickly. The amount of sunlight it can withstand without scorching depends upon the how hot it becomes in the summer in the locale in which it is planted. It will have more colour if it receives more light. During the spring it may be able to take some sun until the heat arrives at the end of spring. In an area that has hot afternoon sun, it may be able to take full morning sun, but requires afternoon shade or afternoon light shade.
Propagation: Usually by seeds or offsets that occasionally appear at the base between the leaves; leave them attached until they are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant.
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