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Category Archives: Bulbs

Satynblom

27 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Colours, Flowers, South African Endemic

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bulb, Clania glenlyonensis, Flowers, Monkey Beetle, Namaqualand, nature, photography, plants, Pollen, pollinator, Romulea Momadelpha, Satynblom, South African endemic plant


The Satynblom is a stemless geophyte occuring in the Hantam Karoo
The lovely large glossy red flowers (hence the common namesatynblom), have black markings on the inside and anther filaments that are fused into a column.

The Monkey Beetle (Clania glenlyonensis) ” is a main pollinator of Romulea monadelpha and within the Hantam National Botanical Garden. It also visits a range of other flowers, and because of its rapid and busy flight, high loads of pollen carried on its hairy body, and large numbers, it is considered a keystone pollinator.

Satyn Flower Romulea monadelpha

Satyn Flower
Romulea monadelpha

Papkuilsfontein

22 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Colours, Eco Tourism, ecology, Photography, South African Endemic

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

accomodation, Ecotourism, environment, flower kingdom, garden, hiking, Namaqualand, Namaqualand Flowers, nature, Papkuilsfontein, photography, plants, South African endemic plant, waterfall


Papkuilsfontein

Soak up the peace and tranquility of this beautiful farm. Stay in the old, beautifully restored stone cottages,in your own private Fynbos setting.View the awesome canyon and its 100m waterfall. In spring, enjoy the world-renowned flowers in this Serengeti of the floral kingdom (This area is known as ”the Bulb Capital of the World” because it has the highest speciation of indigenous bulbous flowers on Earth). Experience the rich bird life, fauna, and San rock art. Swim in the cool waters of a natural rock pool, or in the pool at the cottages, built to be reminiscent of a farm dam. Hike the trails through sandstone rock formations and don’t forget to bring your mountain bike or your 4×4.

Fynbos flowers

Fynbos flowers

Guest accommodation

Cat’s tails as far as the eye can see

Old Ox Wagon

Windmill

Windmill

Rivers of flowers

Rivers of flowers

Cat's tails

Cat’s tails

Ruins in a field of flowers

Ruins in a field of flowers

Babiana

Babiana

Blue Aster

Blue Aster

water loving plants on cliff face

water loving plants on cliff face

Spectacular waterfall

Spectacular waterfall

Cape girdled Lizard

Cape girdled Lizard

Wordless Wednesday in Namaqualand

20 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Colours, Eco Tourism, Flowers, Gardens, South African Endemic

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

environment, Flowers, garden, Namaqualand, nature, photography, plants, South African endemic plant


Wordless in Namaqualand

Wordless in Namaqualand

Falling Stars

21 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Colours, Flowers, Growing, South African Endemic

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bulb, Crocosmia aurea, Falling Stars, Flowers, gardening, plants, South African endemic plant


Falling Stars Crocosmia aurea

Falling Stars
Crocosmia aurea

The tall stalks make it desirable in a vase as a cut flower.

The tall stalks make it desirable in a vase as a cut flower.

This is a very decorative shade plant that offers a combination of both attractive foliage and showy flowers. Used in a mixed planting with broad-leaved plants and fine-textured ground-covers, Crocosmia aurea can easily become a focal point.

Image

Faery Friday – Watsonia

30 Friday May 2014

Tags

art gift, art print, deviantart, Faery Friday, nature, photography, plants, South African endemic plant, Watsonia borbonica, Watsonia Bulb


Watsonia Bulb

Watsonia Bulb (Watsonia borbonica)

Posted by Brigid Jackson | Filed under Art Gift, Bulbs, Perennials, Photography, South African Endemic

≈ 2 Comments

Paintbrush Lily

24 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Colours, Flowers, South African Endemic

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

bulb, Flowers, garden, Lily Bulb, Paintbrush, Paintbrush lily, Scadoxus puniceus, South African endemic plant, Sunbirds


Paintbrush Lily Bulb shooting

Paintbrush Lily Bulb shooting

Paintbrush 10 days further on

Paintbrush 10 days further on

Flowers forming

Flowers forming

Close up of flower

Close up of flower

The Paintbrush Lily (Scadoxis puniceus) is one of South Africa’s most spectacular bulbous plants.

The large underground bulbs may be up to 10cm across and have a short thick stem at the base from which numerous fleshy roots arise. The plants are dormant in winter and use the large bulbs and roots to store moisture during this period.

In spring and early summer the Scadoxus puniceus bears large dense heads (inflorescences) up to 15cm across consisting of numerous smaller scarlet flowers with bright yellow anthers. The flower stalk may reach up to 50-60cm and is often spotted with purple near the base. The inflorescences are borne within bracts which may be large and dark purplish red in colour. Sunbirds, weavers and other nectivorous birds feed on the nectar produced by the flowers.

Naked Lady

20 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Cape Town, Colours, Flowers, South African Endemic

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amaryllis, Amaryllis Belladonna, bulb, Cape Town, environment, Flowers, Naked Ladies, nature, plants, South African endemic plant


Amaryllis Belladonna

Amaryllis Belladonna

Driving around Cape Town is a real treat at the moment, Naked Ladies have appeared everywhere. This to me always reminds me that Summer is over.

The flowers always appear before the strap like leaves. This strange phenomenon of flowering before the leaves appear is known as hysteranthy.

Amaryllis is Greek feminine and is named after a beautiful shepherdess. The specific epithet belladonna means beautiful lady. The appearance of the tall, flower stalk without any leaves accounts for the common name “naked lady”. Amaryllis belladonna in its natural habitat is found in small dense groups among rocks. Therefore the best place to plant them would be in a rock garden. In a created landscape, Amaryllis can be used mixed in between blue Agapanthus as a good combination, as the evergreen leaves of the Agapanthus provide skirts for the naked ladies. They can also be grown between a ground cover or mixed annual or herbaceous border.

 

 

 

Kambro – Fockea edulis

25 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Gardens, South African Endemic

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bonsai, Bushman, plants, San, South African endemic plant


fockea

Fockea angustifolia and edulis, Kambro (San) has a large fleshy tuber below the  ground. Fockea species are restricted to Southern Africa, angustifolia is found mainly in the Kalahari region, while edulis is more in the Southern and Eastern Cape.

The abundant water found in the tuber was of fundamental survival to the  San in the Kalahari, enabling them to survive a period of a few months between the end of the Tsamma melon fruiting season, and the start of the new rains.

The tubers are dug out with a digging stick. It is often necessary to dig up to a depth of 1 meter or more to ensure the tuber is recovered intact.

In South Africa, Kambro species are occasionally eaten, but better know as a source for jam. Kambro may also be eaten as a side dish, either baked whole or sliced and baked in butter, sugar, honey and cinnamon.

Plants are scarce these days and have become a curiosity. Often used  Bonsai specimens

Color on the Mountain

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by Brigid Jackson in Bulbs, Colours, Gardens, Perennials

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Africa, Bee, Cape Town, environment, flower, Flowers, Malva, Mesembranthemum, Mesembryanthemum, nature, organic, Pelargonium, plants, South Africa, South African endemic plant, Western Cape


A short distance from my home up the mountain can be found this wonderful eye-catching colour of endemic plants growing wild, surviving sandy soils and harsh wind and full sun.

Pelargonium cucullatum - Wild Malva
Pelargonium cucullatum – Wild Malva
Cotula
Cotula
Mesembranthemum
Mesembranthemum
Watsonia
Watsonia
Carpets of Mesembranthemum
Carpets of Mesembranthemum

The Wild Malva (Pelargonium cucullatum) is growing profusely.  When crushed the leaves of some forms emit a strong, sweet scent.  The flowers are faintly scented. Sunbirds, butterflies, long-beaked flies and moths have all been observed visiting the flowers.

Traditionally this pelargonium was used medicinally to cure colic, kidney ailments, diarrhoea, coughs and fevers. The leaves were used as a poultice for bruises, stings and abscesses. In the nineteenth century it was used as a hedge-row ornamental in Cape Town. It is also useful as a cut flower as the branches last for many weeks in water.

Vygies –  Mesembryanthemum (meaning “midday flowering”) is a genus of flowering plants native to southern Africa. Thriving in hot conditions, Mesembryanthemum creates a  ‘Magic Carpet’ and simply loves poor, dry soils where most other plants would fail.

Brass Buttons (Cotula). Annual herb growing up to 30 cm high, with finely divided leaves, with white or yellow rays and a yellow disc. Native to South Africa (Western Cape and Eastern Cape) where it is found in sandy and disturbed places.

Watsonia borbonica is magnificent will tall spikes of “Pink” flowers. Watsonia borbonica is pollinated by large, solitary bees, mainly of the family Apidae: subfamily Anthophorinae. The bees visit the flowers in the early morning, seeking nectar and collecting pollen from flowers that have just opened. The styles of the flowers only unfurl later on their second day and become receptive, and at the same time the nectar levels rise. The bees visiting for the nectar transfer some of the pollen collected earlier from the freshly opened flowers. By noon there is no more nectar or pollen and the bees move away. Goldlatt 1989 and John Manning (pers.comm)

 

 

Related articles
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Image

Namaqualand in Spring

10 Tuesday Sep 2013

Tags

art gifts, deviantart, environment, Flowers, garden, Namaqualand, nature, photo art, photography, plants, print art, quotes, South African endemic plant, Spring


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.
~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

Namaqualand

Buy this print (free download)

  • Photo
  • Art print
  • Art gifts

 

Posted by Brigid Jackson | Filed under Art Gift, Bulbs, Colours, Flowers, Gardens, Photography, Quotes, South African Endemic

≈ 4 Comments

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