Haworthia truncata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asphodelaceae
Subfamily:	Asphodeloideae
Genus:	Haworthia
Species:	H. truncata
Binomial name
Haworthia truncata Schönland[1]

Haworthia truncata, locally known ashorse's teeth, is aspecies of succulent plant in the genusHaworthia.^[1] It is found in theLittle Karoo region, in the far east of theWestern Cape Province,South Africa.

It is a small plant, being approximately 2 cm (0.79 in) high by 10 cm (3.9 in) wide. This species is easily recognizable by its leaves which have a nearly rectangular crosssection and are arranged in two opposite rows. The leaves are gray or gray-green and are held more or less upright. The end of a leaf – the upper surface – gives the impression of having been cut (or truncated), hence the specific epithettruncata. The leaves are covered in white or gray lines withverrucosities.

In the wild, plants are often half-buried, leaving only the tips of the leaves visible above the soil. The truncated tip has aleaf window; i.e. it is translucent, allowing light to enter forphotosynthesis. In this respect the species resemblesLithops,Fenestraria, andHaworthia cymbiformis.

The flowers are not very showy, emerging in white, tubular clusters on a 20 cm (7.9 in) stem.

Haworthia truncata var.maughanii(Poelln.) B.Fearn

The naturally occurring variety"maughanii" has rounded leaves that grow in a spiral rosette (not in adistichous row, as in the more common type variety) and can be found in a small restricted area nearCalitzdorp. This is to the far west of the natural range of theHaworthia truncata, and there are natural intermediates and hybrids on the boundary between the varieties.

Haworthia truncata var.truncata

The type-variety of the species, under which theforms "minor" and "crassa" fall. "H. truncata f.minor" and "H. truncata f.crassa" are now classified as synonyms ofH. truncata var.truncata byWCSP.^[2]

Form "minor" (lit. "smaller") is miniature, forming the typical distichous leaf-rows with tiny hairs on the leaf tips. It is restricted to a small area near Dysseldorp. This form is also sometimes referred to asHaworthia papillarisBreuer.

Form "crassa" (lit. "fat") is an intermediate form between the varietymaughanii and the type varietytruncata. It has the rounded leaf tips of var.maughanii, but unlike that variety they are arranged in distichous rows.

In cultivation, a wide variety of cultivars have been produced, through selective breeding of varieties and through hybridisation.

• Haworthia truncata 'Lime Green': the netting of veins is lime green in colour. A hybrid betweenH. truncata andH. cuspidata (or perhapsH. cymbiformis).

This species is increasingly common in cultivation and is very easy to propagate in large numbers. It can be grown from seed, from off-sets, from root cuttings and even from leaf-cuttings. It also readily hybridises with otherHaworthia species.

It requires very well-drained soil, and some exposure to sun. It is also one of the fewHaworthia species that can become adapted to a full sun environment. Its natural habitat in theLittle Karoo is arid, but with sparse rainfall intermittently throughout the year. In the gentle (often semi-shade) conditions in cultivation, the leaves tend to grow upwards and outside of the soil.

In temperate regions,H. truncata is usually grown under glass or indoors, as it does not tolerate freezing temperatures. In cultivation in theUK it has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.^[3][4]

Media related toHaworthia truncata at Wikimedia Commons

• Haworthia
• Endemic flora of the Cape Provinces
• Garden plants
• Plants described in 1910

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles with 'species' microformats
• Commons link is on Wikidata