Haworthia truncata var. tenuis

Haworthia truncata var. tenuis is another H. truncata variety that grows its leaves distichously in a fan shape with truncated blades. They are narrower than those of H. truncata var. truncata.

Both plants are found in the Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp region. These plants hide in the shade of the Little Karoo shrubs on gravelly slopes in hard, slightly acid soil.

H. truncata is one of the species with contractile roots, fleshy and wrinkled, used in dry seasons to pull the plant slightly into the ground by contracting the root bodies. This brings rest through low metabolism and being taken out of harm’s way. Dangers to these plants include firstly trampling, which is less likely under the big bushes of the general vegetation where the plants typically grow and secondly being eaten by herbivores who might miss the plant when the roots pull it (nearly) underground or when reduced juice in the leaves renders it less appetising (Scott, l985).