Drimia uranthera - Oudtshoorn area

An interesting and rare Drimia species from Between Calitzdorp and De Rust

Sanbi also mentions the Ladismith district however. ( http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=3812-

The bulbs have thin grey-green leaves that are semi-erect or prostrate and can be curled or straight. In the green house the leaves tend to grow erect however.

The bulbs flower in February and autumn with the raceme about 12 to 20 cm high and the nodding flowers on pedicels 3 to 12 mm long. The leaves appear during autumn.

The anthers are tailed - distinguising it from the similar flowering Drimia convallarioides that has rounded anthers.

Leaves

Flowers

 

Drimia sp 300318A - East of Prince Albert

An interesting and fairly large undecribed epigeal bulb. The leaves are twisted somewhat similar to those of Boophone disticha but the leaves are shorter and the flowers and seeds typical of Drimia. The plants are found in an area east of Prince Albert

 It probably belongs to the same group as Drimia physodes but is markedly different. The leaf section is notably smaller than that of Drimia physodes. The leaf colour is blue green as compared to green.. The bulbs seem to have no underground section.

There are lots of protecting loose scales around the bulb. Seedlings are totally different than those of Drimia physodes.

Seedling in cultivation buried deep under the soil.

Drimia uranthera

Drimia uranthera is a rare bulb that is only known from some isolated spots between the Oudtshoorn and De Rust of the Little Karoo (Vlok and Vlok). Sanbi also mentions the Ladismith district however. ( http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=3812-58 ),

Leaves

The bulbs have thin grey-green leaves that are semi-erect or prostrate and are often curled. In the green house the leaves tend to grow erect however.

Flowers

The bulbs flower in February and autumn with the raceme about 12 to 20 cm high and the nodding flowers on pedicels 3 to 12 mm long. The leaves appear during autumn.

The anthers are tailed - distinguising it from the similar flowering Drimia convallarioides that has rounded anthers.

Mostly copied from http://soilandroots.com/desert-plants/Drimia/uranthera/drimia-uranthera.html

Drimia 110620 'crispum' - Patryskloof Worcester

A very attractive medium large growing bulb with undulate leaf margins. I do not know if it  has been officially described yet. 

It maybe related to Drimia 'leopoortensis'   .

Both species have a solid bulb without scales.

Drimia platyphylla - South of Volmoed

The bulbs appear to be rather scarce in this area. Flowers not seen yet.

Growing ins deep shade on the southern slope of a hill.

Drimia physodes - Karree Rivier Tanqua Karoo

Drimia physodes is an attractive large growing bulb distributed over arid parts of the Western Karoo. The bulbs can be subterranean or partly exposed above the ground.

The wavy erect leaves appear in winter. Flowering time is given from October to April. The flowers open late afternoon on a subcorymbose raceme. It is a rewarding species to cultivate.

The following images from the Tanqua Karoo

From Pacific Bulb Society

Schizobasis indricata 'Kannaensis'

Schizobasis indricata is a most unusual bulbous plant. It only has one solitary leaf  during the seedling stage.

Later the only photosynthesizing parts are those of the inflorescence which occurs in autumn/winter, rainfall permitting. The bulb can also photosynthesize when exposed above the soil, which it usually is not.

It is a very slow growing bulb.

Kannaensis refers to Kannaland. An area of the Little Karoo stretching roughly from Barrydale to Oudtshoorn. The plants are somewhat similar to Schizobasis indricata but form less branches. Peduncles seem to grow  taller.

The type  S indricata is found north of the Swartberg and in the Eastern Cape.

Perhaps it should be a new species - not sure.

From Miertjieskraal between Riversdale and Ladismith. The peduncles seem darker than the Oudtshoorn forms

Miertjieskraal

Near Oudtshoorn

Near Oudtshoorn



Near Oudtshoorn.When growing in shrub the inflorescence gets quite robust.



Growing in the the open at the same location as picture above. There is such a stark difference that one might be tempted to regard them as two different species.

Near Oudtshoorn

Flowering near Oudtshoorn.

Drimia leopoortensis

I use the name Drimia leopoortensis at this stage as a trade name for a species likely undescribed. 

An expert regards the bulbs as probably a form of Drimia elata senso lato which does occur in South Africa.

There is some resemblance to the latter, but while Drimia elata clearly has scales Drimia leopoortensis has not. It is a solid bulb

It is a medium to large growing bulb found  in shade on a steep hill at Leopoort south of Oudtshoorn. It seems to be fairly uncommon there.

Peduncle.

Flowers.

In habitat with fruit

Bulbs are solid and not scaled like in Drimia elata


Leaves

Ripe fruit capsules.

There are only a few seedlings and offsets available at this time which will be sold on  Plant Auction occasionally.