From Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden: Haworthia truncata var. truncata has a fleshy root system and is shallow-rooted so the plant can absorb every drop of moisture when it rains. It is a miniature leaf succulent with abruptly truncated leaves that are arranged opposite each other. This plant grows flat on the ground with the fleshy leaves just protruding above the soil surface. The small, white, aloe-like flowers are borne on long slender stems, ± 150 mm long, and are produced mainly in late spring. Haworthia truncata var. truncata is Vulnerable (Raimondo et al. in prep.). The main reason this plant has become vulnerable is due to avid succulent collectors and land change activities in the Little Karoo. Ostriches too, have added somewhat to their demise.
Distribution and habitat:
Haworthia truncata var. truncata grows in the winter rainfall region of the Little Karoo in the Western Cape. It is known from the Oudsthoorn, De Rust and Calitzdorp areas. Derivation of name and historical aspects: The genus Haworthia was named in honour of Adrian Hardy Haworth, (1768–1833) by Henri Auguste Duval, a French doctor. British born Haworth was a gardener who described plants, some of which were the genus Mesembryanthemum in the family Aizoceae. The specific epithet, truncata, meaning ending very abruptly (truncate), refers to the straight edge of the succulent leaves.
Ecology:
Haworthia truncata var. truncata flowers from September to late October. Attracting the right pollinator is important in the floral biology of the species. In most cases bees with specialized mouthparts (long tongues) pollinate the flowers which have a relatively long tube with nectar in the base. In an attempt to reach this nectar, the pollinator fortuitously brushes against the reproductive parts thus ensuring pollination. It is not uncommon for sunbirds to pollinate haworthias. Haworthias are essentially winter-growing plants, but do occur in a variety of habitats from sea level to 2 000 m. in most of South Africa's nine provinces. Most haworthias favour the nurse plant environment, i.e. growing under the protection of a small bush; there are, however, some that grow in the open, exposed to the elements, such Haworthia maxima, H. springbokvlakensis and H. truncata var. truncata.
Uses and cultural aspects:
Haworthia truncata var. truncata is cultivated by succulent lovers. It makes a special feature in a clay pot. The Japanese have bred some extraordinary variations of this species; variegated forms are available on the market.