Charles Duval gave this group of plants the name Haworthia in 1809 to commemorate Adrian H. Haworth, an English entomologist and botanist who specialized in succulents. Since then, Haworthia nomenclature has been continuously changing, fueled by how different clones of the same plant can vary according to their growing conditions, and by the ease by which many species interbreed. In the literature there are over 400 species named, but currently these have been reduced to about 60 species with about 100 subspecies.

Although some Haworthias are more difficult to cultivate than others, most are very easy to grow. They require abundant bright light, but need light shade to shade to grow well. They also require a well-drained soil that approaches dryness between watering.

There are about 20 species of Gasteria in South Africa. Their flowers have a characteristic shape. The name "Gasteria" comes from the Latin for 'stomach', and refers to the shape of the flower.

Most gasterias tolerate low light levels, and can be grown indoors. Propagation is mostly by offsets, and leaf cuttings. A large percentage of the Gasterias in the nursery trade are probably hybrids of uncertain origin.

A note on taxonomy: In the past, Haworthias, Aloes, Gasterias, and their relatives were treated as a tribe in the Liliaceae, a huge family of monocots that also included lilies, onions, agaves, and yuccas. All of these plants have colorful petals, arranged in threes, and six stamens.

More recently, botanists have discovered phytochemical and molecular evidence that shows this concept of Liliaceae to be artificial and unnatural (meaning that it does not conform to evolutionary relationships). A more accurate classification, one that is based on all available characteristics, reveals that the old "Liliaceae" are best classified into two major groups (or orders, in taxonomic parlance) - the LILIALES and the ASPARAGALES. Lilies, Trilliums, and a few others are in the Liliales. Onions, agaves, yuccas, haworthias, irises, and orchids are placed in the Asparagales. Within the Asparagales there are several families, two of which include succulents - the Agavaceae (Agaves, Yuccas) and the Asphodelaceae (Aloes, Gasterias, Haworthias, and Bulbines). Some experts on succulent plants tend to recognize the haworthias, gasterias and aloes, all of which are especially succulent, in a separate family - Aloaceae. Whereas, the professional taxonomic botanists tend to recognize the larger family, based on molecular data, and call it the Asphodelaceae.

A good internet site for Haworthias and Gasterias is maintained by the Haworthia Society which embraces the genera Aloe, Astroloba, Gasteria, Haworthia, related small genera and Bulbine together with their hybrids and cultivars: www.cactus-mall.com/Haworthia-Society/index.html

A site with many good photographs can be found at: www.haworthia.com/Species/Haworthia.htm

Two good books are The Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons edited by Urs Eggli and Haworthia Revisited by Bruce Bayer (both are in our library).