One thing that Haworthias always seem to have on their side is the element of surprise. So many finds have a little kink to them leaving a person always wondering if any standard norm can really be applied to there expected habitat, appearance or relation to other members of the genus. Finding Haworthia dekenahii in its habitat may not perhaps be so unexpected although a closer examination of the plants leave you satisfied that a unique species name is still well deserved in this instance despite the plants being part of a larger complex of relatives.
Haworthia dekenahii is found in a few isolated spots on the northern banks of the Valsch River north of Albertinia. The plants in habitat have not been seen by many people.
More than likely it is a easterly form of the Haworthia retusa complex as it grades into Haworthia pygmaea, but with a few features to make it stand out from the rest of the field. Their locality is quite few kilometers to the east of Haworthia fusca which is also a Haworthia retusa related plant. The habitat is considerably different to the habitat of the latter as the plants grow in shale between Aloe ferox and other succulents. Haworthia dekenahii is an attractive plant. Mostly the plants lack the smooth shiny surface of Haworthia retusa, and rather have a rough matt surface somewhat like Haworthia magnifica but also different. The translucent protrusions on the upper leaf surface are quite prominent in this species. This feature is not uncommon in some others but is less prominent or almost absent in Haworthia retusa. The flowering time and general floral characteristics mostly conform with the Retusa aggregate.
On my only recent visit I did not have the opportunity to see Haworthia turgida which apparently grows nearby on the southern banks of the river. Haworthia turgida also flowers at a similar time and it would be interesting to observe the two species with similar flowering times to grow so close together and still remain separate species.
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