Haworthia marumiana

Haworthia marumiana is a small succulent perennial from South Africa. It belongs to the family Asphodelaceae. Its range spans the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. Plants occur from around Beaufort West eastward to Sterkstroom. Kew places the species in desert or dry shrubland. It forms low mounds of closely packed leaf rosettes. These rosettes lack a visible stem and produce new shoots. Shoots arise at the base and between the leaves.

Each rosette measures about 0.13–0.16 feet (0.04–0.05 metres) across. Some reach 0.23 feet (0.07 metres) across. The shoots gather into dense cushions as the plant grows. These measurements describe single rosettes, not the whole clump. The olive-green leaves stand almost upright and curve inward. Each leaf has a broad base and a narrow tip. Leaves measure about 0.04–0.07 feet (0.012–0.02 metres) long. They feel fairly soft despite their small teeth and bristles.

The upper leaf face is almost flat. A clear keel runs along the lower face. Tiny teeth line both the keel and leaf edges. Each leaf ends in a fine, hairlike point. Pale green lines form a net across the leaf surfaces. Translucent patches add to this pattern, most clearly near the tips. The surfaces may feel smooth or bear fine bristles. Full sun can turn the green leaves purple. That colour change does not establish a need for full sun.

Flowers appear from spring into summer on thin, wiry stalks. The stalks reach about 0.66 feet (0.20 metres) high. Each carries only a few small flowers. Their pale white to green tones make them less showy than the leaves. In gardens, the plant suits small succulent displays and rockeries. It also fits windowsills and verandas as a potted plant. Its compact rosettes allow it to share space with small succulents.

LLIFLE describes this species as easy to grow and maintain. It produces offsets freely and can build small groups quickly. Growth takes place in winter, with rest during the hottest summer months. Give it shade or light shade in cultivation. Use a porous potting mix that lets water drain freely. The source favours non-acid soil and a shallow pot. A pot 0.33–0.49 feet (0.10–0.15 metres) wide can serve for years.