Haworthia nigra

[Aloenut]

Here is another of the slow growing miniatures, Haworthia nigra. It multiplies readily by way of plantlets at the end of stolons. However I have found these stolons tend to snake around the bottom of the pot instead of finding their way to the surface.
[attachment 1771 H_nig.JPG]

[Julie]

Triangular - how lovely! Lovely leaf texture too.

Multiplies readily, but does not get big readily?

[Bill]

Hi Aloe

One of my favorites, I have quite a few of these, as you say slow and steady. I notice yours is as dirty as mine Along with a few other Haworthia like springbokvlakensis they seem to have sticky surface that holds small particles of dirt and stones, perhaps a camouflage method.

I appear to have two maybe three "forms" most are the same as yours, but one is much smaller (poss. diversifolia) and the other same stature but has longer leaves almost 30% longer than norm.

During the summer these realy earn their name "nigra" turning nearly jet black.

[attachment 1796 nigra.jpg]

[Julie]

The only way is up!

So, they get taller, not wider.

I was going to say it does not look very black... my houseleek "something nigra" is a sort of purpley pale green at the moment, and the old leaves are purple. It will be black in the summer too, though.

[Bill]

Yes Julie they can get to about 4" (10cm) tall. Some Haworthia like your houseleeks are rosette growings and grow out rather than up, others grow up like nigra and some do a bit of both.

Just found that the longer leafed form was known as angustata, although this name is not upheld by Bruce Bayer.

[Aloenut]

Hi Bill,

I have quite a few forms of nigra. Some have very short chunky leaves while others have longer, thinner reflexed leaves. And then the 'standard form' as in the photo.
The various forms have been given names in the past(schmidtiana and varieties) but have all been lumped under nigra while Bayer recognised the variety diversifolia.