South African Bulbs/Geophytes 2017

[Paul Cumbleton]

Yes Steve, the Boophone disticha is a winter-growing form. You can just see the new leaves starting to appear at the neck of the bulb in the photo.

Paul

[ArnoldT]

Eucomis bicolor, growing outside here.  Been in the same spot for at least ten years. 

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Arnold,
how did it lose its top-knot?

Here are two tinies:
1&2) Hesperantha oligantha;
3&4) Lapeirousia montana
cheers
fermi

[ArnoldT]

Fermi:

It usually has one.  Could have been a browsing deer.  We have them visiting the garden at times.

[fermi de Sousa]

This is one of the Babiana odorata seedlings showing evidence of hybridising with B. pygmaea
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Babiana pygmaea is also in flower
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Another little hesperantha, H. latifolia
Romulea hirta
more flowers on Lapeirousia montana
Geissorhiza ornithogaloides
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Moraea macronyx in 2 forms, one with brownish markings
cheers
fermi

[Steve Garvie]

Brunsvigia namaquana

[fermi de Sousa]

Lachenalia bolusii is flowering without foliage as it was burned off by frosts earlier in the year,
cheers
fermi

[ArnoldT]

Gethyllis linearis seed pod or is it a 'fruit'

[fermi de Sousa]

Arnold,
you'll have to let us know how many seeds you harvest from it.

We have the first flower open today on Moraea (syn Homeria) marlothii; grown from SIGNA Seedex sown 3-06-2012; first seedlings 11-08-2012,
cheers
fermi

[Paul Cumbleton]

Good to see your bulbs Fermi. As your season starts to approach its end for the winter-growers, mine is just starting. Nearly always the first in flower for me are the Empodiums and I have been enjoying their wonderful scent for nearly a month now. I grow just two - Empodium plicatum & Empodium flexile both pictured below. Also always early is the cute Ornithogalum osmynellum with the wonderfully coiled leaves.

Paul

[Paul Cumbleton]

Some more I've been enjoying: First a wonderful form of Nerine humilis that was collected at Piekenierskloof. This is a rich pink and lives up to its name in being smaller (shorter in height) than many other clones. Next is Strumaria watermeyeri - probably my favourite Strumaria along with its dwarf subspecies botterkloofensis.

Paul

[Paul Cumbleton]

Finally for now, the Massonias are well into growth. This is the second year of my experiment planting some of them out in the plunge and they are emerging well. Looking good even without flowers are three nicely-marked clones of Massonia depressa.

Paul