A giant dwarf (Haworthia pumila)

This name exemplifies one of the quirks of botanical nomenclature.
How can the biggest of the Haworthias (each rosette up to 25 cm tall and about 15 cm across) be called a dwarf? It only makes sense when you know that the plant was originally described as an Aloe, and as such it is a dwarf of course.
H. pumila is found from Worcester to Montagu (as far south as the northern foothills of the Riviersonderend Mountains) and in the southwest corner of the Great Karoo. Usually the plants consist of a single rosette, but over time they may (slowly) produce additional ones.
The first two pictures were taken just north of Matjiesfontein in late July, the third one south east of McGregor in the same period;
Pictures four and five are from the Aneysberg Nature Reserve  (late September) and the last two show plants in the uncultivated part of the Montagu Nature Garden (same period).

hawopumi 2010-07-29#116

hawopumi 2010-07-29#114

hawopumi 9137

hawopumi 2010_09_14#060

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hawopumi 8754

hawopumi 8751

 

 

 

 

 

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