Albuca spiralis

This South African bulb is well-named, because the leaves are very spiraled. It comes from the winter-rainfall region in western South Africa, and it is completely dormant all summer. The curling leaves emerge along with the arrival of the rains in autumn, and then the flowers follow in late winter to early spring. Albuca is now placed in the Asparagus Family, in the subfamily Scilloideae, but it was formerly in the Hyacinth Family.

Lachenalia quadricolor

Lachenalia is a genus of small bulbs, mostly coming from the winter-rainfall area in the western part of South Africa. It was formerly placed in the Hyacinth Family, but is now put in the subfamily Scilloideae within the Asparagus Family - along with all the other plants in the old Hyacinth Family. Lachenalia quadricolor used to be considered a variety of L. aloides, but it has now been raised to a species in its own right, though clearly related to L. aloides. This plant has incredibly-colored flowers, combining coral-red, yellow, green and purple in a display that does not look real. From the southwestern part of the Western Cape Province. Like other species in its genus, it is completely dormant all summer, but it makes up for lost time with its winter show!

Albuca batteniana

Albuca is a genus from the old Hyacinth Family, now incorporated into the subgenus Scilloideae within the Asparagus Family. The flower shown is a typical Albuca flower, with its colors confined to green, white and yellow (in this case, just a dab of yellow at the tip), and with 3 tepals that are splayed, while the other 3 stay together. The plant itself is a bulb, with leaves that look grass-like, but are more succulent. Native to South Africa's south coast, with populations in both the Western Cape and in the Eastern Cape. We received this plant labeled Albuca batteniae, but apparently the correct name is A. batteniana.

Lachenalia namaquensis

For my final post of the day, I offer up photos of another summer-dormant, winter-growing bulb from western South Africa. This one is Lachenalia namaquensis, named after the dry Namaqualand region in the country's northwest. The shades of purple are exquisite! I am tagging it under both Asparagaceae, subfamily Sciloideae (its new placement) and under Hyacinthaceae (its old family).