Haworthia tessellata

H. tessellata, near Eksteenfontein, photo by Bertus

Haworthia tessellata Haw.

tessellata: square-patterned.

H. tessellata is one of the most widespread and also variable Haworthia. Rosette is stemless, with square patterned lines on leaves, lower surface is usually slightly scabrid. It occurs primarily in the summer rainfall area. Usually it is very proliferous or stoloniferous, it forms clusters in nature and fill in the space it has - shady place under the bush or in rock crevices. 

There was a  examination of chromosone numbers done by Motohashi et al. They found that polyploidy is common. Hexaploids and octaploids appear to dominate to north-east, while tetraploids do so in the north-west and south-east. The number of chromosomes does not matterially affect the appearance of the plants.

Distribution map

H. tessellata grows in very large distribution area as you can see on the atteched map. It is the only Haworthia that grows in Namibia. (May be some arachnoidea as well). In past there were huge number of names amongst this species, but Bayer includes all as synonyms of H. tessellata. I think it was wise decision.

In cultivation it grows quite easily, propgation is done by stolons/offsetts. If you give it right amount of sun light, the nice markings will be more visible and plants more attractive.

H. tessellata, Beaufort West

H. tessellata, Beaufort West

H. tessellata, Beaufort West

H. tessellata, Molteno Pass

H. tessellata, Molteno Pass

H. tessellata, Molteno Pass

locality of H. tessellata, Molteno Pass

H. tessellata, 20 km N. Steinkopf, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, Lorelei, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, Lorelei, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, Anenous Pass, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, Steinkopf, photo by Hans-Jürgen Thorwarth

H. tessellata, just E. Middelpos, photo by I.Breuer

H. tessellata, Bethel, photo by I.Breuer

H. tessellata, Geelhoek, photo by I.Breuer

H. tessellata, Lady Grey, photo by I.Breuer

H. tessellata, Lady Grey, photo by I.Breuer

Synonyms:

Aloe tessellata, H. parva, Aloe parva, H. tessellata var. inflexa, H. tessellata var. parva, H. engleri,  H. tessellata var. engleri, H. pseudotessellata,  H. tessellata var. tuberculata, H. minutissima,  H. tessellata var. minutissima,  H. tessellata var. elongata, H. tessellata var. simplex, H. tessellata var. stephaniana,  H. tessellata var. luisierii,  H. tessellata var. palhinhiae,  H. tessellata var. velutina,  H. tessellata var. coriacea,  H. tessellata var. coriacea forma longior, H. tessellata var. coriacea forma brevior, H. tessellata var. obesa, H. venosa ssp. recurva

Known localities:    

• Vanzylsrus (2622CC)
• Vryburg (2623DC)
• Schwarzekuppe, Aurus (2716CB)
• Namuskluft (2716DD)
• Rosh Pinah (2716DD)
• Holoog Station, W. Grünau (2718AC)
• near Klein Karas (2718CA)
• Signalberg, W. Grünau (2718CA)
• Matlaring River (2723AB)
• Buxton (2724DB)
• Klein Boetsap (2724CD)
• S. Ochta (2816BB)
• S. Sendelingsdrift (2816BB)
• Sendelingsdrift (2816BB)
• Hellskloof (2816BD)
• Augrabies (2816CB)
• Rooiberg (2817AA)
• Black Face Mountains (2817CB)
• Helskloof (2817CD)
• NE. Eksteenfontein (2817CD)
• E. Klipbok (2817CD)
• Eksteenfontein (2817CD)
• Kouefontein (2817CD)
• S. Violsdrift (2817DA)
• E. Aussenkehr (2817DA)
• W. Aussenkehr (2817DA)
• Warmbad (2818CA)
• Tantalite Valley (2818DB)
• W. Pella (2819CC)
• Aughrabies (2820CB)
• Kakamas (2820DB)
• Wegdraai (2821DD)
• N. Pofadder (2917AB)
• NE. Skimmelberg, NE. Port Nolloth (2917AB)
• Skimmelberg, W. Steinkopf (2917AB)
• E. Poffader (2917AD)
• NE. Umdaus (2917BA)
• N. Umdaus (2917BA)
• S. Umdaus (2917BA)
• Umdaus (2917BA)
• Gunhill, Anenous (2917BA)
• Arebees (2917BB)
• N. Steinkopf (2917BB)
• Anenous Pass (2917BB)
• Springbok (2917BC)
• Kinderle (2917BD)
• Koeries (2918BA)
• Aggenys (2918BB)
• E. Smorenskadu Farm (2918CA)
• W. Gamoep (2918DC)
• Nuwedam, SE. Poffader (2919AB)
• Pofadder (2919AB)
• Die Poortse Berge (2919AD)
• Spitzkop, N. Port Nolloth (2919AD)
• Marydale (2922AA)
• Prieska (2922DB)
• Mazelsfontein (2923BA)
• 3,6km NW. Campbell (2923DC)
• Belmont (2924AD)
• Luckhoff (2924DB)
• Jagersfontein (2925CB)
• Koppies (2925CB)
• Veld Reserve (2925CB)
• Kromfonteinberg (3017DB)
• 60 km NNW. Loeriesfontein (3019AD)
• Jaagvlakte (3019BD)
• Leeuput, Vosburg (3022BD)
• Vaalhoek (3022CC)
• Omdraaisvlei (3023AA)
• N. Britstown (3023BD)
• Brakfontein (3023CB)
• Twyfelhoek (3023DA)
• Vloekpoort (3023DD)
• De Aar (3024AD)
• P.K. Le Rouxdam (3024BA)
• near Petrusville (3024BA)
• Philippolis (3025AD)
• Bethulie (3025BD)
• Colesberg (3025CA)
• Kraairivier (3026AB)
• Tussen Riviere (3026AC)
• near Rouxville (3026BD)
• Murraysville (3026CD)
• Doctors Drift (3026DA)
• Kraai River (3026DD)
• Vegkop, 11 km W. Zastron (3027AC)
• Lady Grey (3027CA)
• Kamelksrivier (3027CA)
• Quaggaskop (3118BC)
• Ezelskop (3119AA)
• Koppieskraal (3119AB)
• Vanrhyns Pass (3119AC)
• Akkerendam, N. Calvinia (3119BD)
• Blouwkranspass, S. Calvinia (3119DB)
• Hamberg, Syter (3120AD)
• N. Middelpos (3120BA)
• Middelpos (3120CC)
• Fraisersberg (3121DC)
• Pampoenpoort, SE. Carnarvon (3122BA)
• Victoria West (3123AC)
• Three Sisters (3123CC)
• Nuwerus (3123CD)
• Cypherwater (3124AD)
• Tweedale, Noupoort (3124BB)
• Carlton Station, NE of Middelburg (3124BD)
• Flouker (3125AC)
• Rooispruit (3125AD)
• Schoombie (3125AD)
• Doringberg, Conway (3125CB)
• Thebus (3125BC)
• Allemanspoort, S. Jamestown (3126BB)
• Bethel (3220AB)
• Geelhoek (3220AB)
• BO Fish River (3220AC)
• Granietberge, N. Sutherland (3220BC)
• Otterkuil, NW. Sutherland (3220BC)
• Sutherland (3220BC)
• Beaufort West (3222BC)
• Aarfontein (3221AD)
• Karoo Park (3222BA)
• E. Molteno Pass (3222BC)
• Molteno Pass (3222BC)
• Road to Loxton (3222BC)
• Stolshoek (3222BD)
• Nelspoort (3223AA)
• Redcilffe (3223BA)
• Valley of Desolation, Graaff-Reinet (3224AD)
• Aberdeen Road (3223CD)
• Mt. Zebra Park (3225AD)
• Halesowen (3225BA)
• old road between Steytlerville and Uitenhage (3324BC)