Haworthia retusa

Star cactus

This haworthia hails from a very small area around Riverdale, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Though sometimes called a star cactus, it is not a cactus. In fact, it may not even be a haworthia, instead being an aloe, Aloe retusa.

Plants: This perennial succulent is known for its weird leaves—more below. Leaves form a tight basal rosette only about 3–4″ (7.6–10 cm) tall.

Leaves: . Leaves are “retuse”—deltoid, and recurved so that the upturned face of each leaf forms a triangle. They are thick and fleshy. The leaves also have shiny “leaf top windows,” trans­lucent areas through which light can enter. This adaptation allows a good portion of the plant’s leaves to remain below the surface of the ground, minimizing dessication, a bit like natural skylights. The windows focus and channel diffused light to the green photosynthesizing surface hidden underground. A sur­pris­ing number of succulent species have evolved this trick.

Flowers: A raceme of flowers about 6″ (15 cm) high tops a stalk about 1½′ (50 cm) in height. Flowers are tubular, white or pale pink, with six tepals, and a green central vein in each tepal.

Fruits: Ovoid to oblong capsules have three compartments containing winged seeds.

Habitats: Low clayey hills, under bushes or among stones in undisturbed places where original vegetation is remaining, in its restricted habitat in South Africa.

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Haworthia retusa description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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