Haworthiopsis attenuata var. attenuata

Haworthiopsis attenuata, previously known as Haworthia attenuata and commonly as the zebra haworthia, is a stemless or short-stemmed leaf-succulent growing numerous, narrow, pointed leaves in dense rosettes from 6 cm to 12 cm in diameter. The plant in the photo is thought to be H. attenuata var. attenuata.

The rigid leaves have continuous bands of white tubercles on their outer surfaces. The upper or inner surfaces have no or few tubercles, while the well rounded outer ones are heavily, transversally striped with an ample quota of white tubercles, often unevenly aligned.

There is a reddish brown colour at the "end-awn" of the leaf, while some leaf-tips are dried out in harsh growing conditions. There are or were at least seven identified varieties of H. attenuata. Only three of them seem to be upheld still, including var. attenuata.

The species distribution is coastal in the Eastern Cape, var attenuata towards the west near Gqeberha.

The plants grow in hard soil, the pH around 6,8, often in rocky places among scrub or in the open. The species including var. attenuata is considered to be vulnerable in its habitat early in the twenty first century, due to unsustainable plant harvesting for the medicinal and horticultural trades, as well as habitat loss (Smith, et al, 2017; Scott, 1985; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).