Group 3 Agapanthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae etc.
These are monocotyledons, leaves with parallel venation, often strap-shaped, flowers with sepals/petals and stamens in multiples of 3, usually with undifferentiated sepals and petals (tepals). Lily-like plants with conspicuous flowers. Stamens 6, flowers radially symmetrical.
Includes Agapanthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Anthericaceae, Asphodelaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Colchicaceae, Lanariaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Tecophilaceae.
Includes Agapanthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Anthericaceae, Asphodelaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Colchicaceae, Lanariaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Tecophilaceae.
Group 3 - Amaryllidaceae family
p50 of the Field Guide to Fynbos by Dr. J Manning
Brunsvigia
Brunsvigia orientalis (Chandelier lily)
Also flowering in March before the leaves appear, and also with large rounded leaves flat to the ground. The flower is much taller and the individual flowers on long stalks together form a large round “chandelier”. Scarce here and scattered about the place in sandy patches.
Crossnye
Crossyne guttata (Parasol Lily)
Flowers early in March with a round head of many small dull maroon and yellow flowers. The leaves appear later and are hairy, strap-shaped and lie flat on the ground. Obviously the flower in the photograph is not the Crossnye!
Haemanthus
Haemanthus coccineus (Paint Brush Lily)
Flowering in March before the huge almost erect leaves appear. The large scarlet flower stands erect to 10-30cm and large fleshy seeds develop. The plants are very numerous in small patches on the dunes towards the Afdaks River.
Group 3 - Asparagaceae family
p58 of the Field Guide to Fynbos by Dr. J Manning
Asparagus (Katdorings)
There are about 120 species of Asparagus. The Katdorings. Although it is a European species that is cultivated as a vegetable, here there are indigenous species that are very palatable, notably A. multiflorus and A. falcatus. The Fernkloof Nature Reserve plant list records 7 species and the following 6 are present here at Fisherhaven:
Asparagus aethiopicus
Curiously meaning “African” and usually South African. This is a creeper very common throughout the Southern Cape. Here we have a very interesting problem. Asparagus is one of the many complicated genera simply not understood by the botanical community. This particular species is named in Australia as Basket fern for a cultivar they name “sprengeri” that has become an invasive weed there. In South Africa “sprengeri” is a name used for a cat's tail variant of A. densiflorus occurring in the Eastern Cape. A. aethiopicus – I have seen one plant on the side of Bellavista Rd and another off Riverside Drive.
Asparagus asparagoides
The suffix “oides” means resembling and the use here seems odd. This has also been termed “smilax” because of the similarity of the leaves to a small green creeper of that name that occurs in the USA. There is said to be a bigger version of this asparagus in the coastal bush differing in that the root tubers are not directly attached to the stem as they are in this species. Unfortunately its deciduous habit does not make it a gardener friendly plant but it can be a very attractive small creeper in the winter. It occurs in the deeper sands off Riverside Drive.
Asparagus excuvialis
The name comes from the flaking bark on the stems like that of an insect shedding its skin. It prefers sand as it has very large root tubers just off the crown of the plant with a few erect stems bearing long fine leaved grey-green “leaves” – actually modified leaf stalks. Usually found in the drier areas of the Western Cape and very rare here at Fisherhaven.
Asparagus lignosus
The name means “woody” and is not very meaningful. The stems seem to be lined, white and papery. The species is restricted to the Winter rainfall area and in the stream seeps of the Overberg can occur in large dense masses. Here it is scarce and only known on erf 51 (20 Sharpie Str.)
Asparagus rubicundus
So named because of the very red stems. It is one of the many species that are appropriately named “catsthorn” because of their spininess and this is severely so. It can be a very handsome plant especially with a new flush of leaves. All Asparagus flower rather irregularly and single branches may do so in profusion usually accompanied by a pleasurable fragrance. Widespread but sparsely so.
Asparagus stipulaceus
Named for the severe spines growing from the base of the leaves. The species is listed as threatened by development all along the south western coast but I seriously doubt that it is different from asparagus capensis that is widely occurring in the winter rainfall area (extending to Eastern Cape and Southern Namibia). Here it is a small insignificant plant with 3 to 4 short stems to about 300mm. I have seen it as isolated plants on several erven.
The question of typical South African garden has often been discussed and never to my satisfaction. There is in my opinion no such thing. As South Africans we have never abandoned the European style garden with emphasis on lawn and trees. Until as late as 1960, we had the forestry department and nurseries promoting non-indigenous trees and even today after much effort and promotion, the notion of growing South African is poorly developed. About the only Asparagus offered in nurseries might be A. virgatus ( the “broom” asparagus) or cultivars of Asparagus densiflorus e.g. “Sprengeri” or “Mazeppa”. I think there are many other species that have potential to be character plants in a truly South African garden, despite their prickliness. I like A. crassicladus, A. macowanii and A. mariae among others.
The question of typical South African garden has often been discussed and never to my satisfaction. There is in my opinion no such thing. As South Africans we have never abandoned the European style garden with emphasis on lawn and trees. Until as late as 1960, we had the forestry department and nurseries promoting non-indigenous trees and even today after much effort and promotion, the notion of growing South African is poorly developed. About the only Asparagus offered in nurseries might be A. virgatus ( the “broom” asparagus) or cultivars of Asparagus densiflorus e.g. “Sprengeri” or “Mazeppa”. I think there are many other species that have potential to be character plants in a truly South African garden, despite their prickliness. I like A. crassicladus, A. macowanii and A. mariae among others.
Eriospermum
Eriospermum species (unidentified)
So far the Eriospermums occurring here are unidentified.
Group 3 - Asphodelaceae family
p60 of the Field Guide to Fynbos by Dr. J Manning
There was a saying that the ship of many a taxonomist had floundered on the rocks of the Liliaceae, and changing the families and their constituents around has not changed much. There are several authoritative opinions on how this should be done and if there is so much divergence at the top of the table, imagine the problems lower down the order.
There was a saying that the ship of many a taxonomist had floundered on the rocks of the Liliaceae, and changing the families and their constituents around has not changed much. There are several authoritative opinions on how this should be done and if there is so much divergence at the top of the table, imagine the problems lower down the order.
Bulbinella (Cattails)
Bulbinella graminifolia
Bulbinella is usually considered as a potential garden plant but this species has a rather insignificant flower in the dry season so does not attract much attention.
Trachyandra (Veld Cabbage)
This is another of those genera where an identification request is met by the response “genus under revision”.
There may be more species at Fisherhaven than the 3 identified thus far.
There may be more species at Fisherhaven than the 3 identified thus far.
Trachyandra falcata (possibly T. divaricata)
The leaves are quite wide, fleshy and a bit sickle shaped. The flowering stalk is quite stout with prominent encircling bracts at the base of crowded flowers. My recollection is that it is the flowers that were cooked and eaten rather than the leaves.
Trachyandra hirsuta
Upright leaves with an also upright firm flower stalk with only one to two flowers open at a time.
Trachyandra revoluta
A rather sprawling plant with a large spreading mass of flowering stems and flowers with the petals flexed backwards. I had thought I had identified it here, but am no longer sure. Next season we will see.
Trachyandra tabularis
Also with erect leaves and an upright flower stalk. Fruits are smooth berries.
Group 3 - Colchicaceae family
p84 of the Field Guide to Fynbos by Dr. J Manning
Baeometra
Baeometra uniflora (Beetle Lily)
Also very common and often in disturbed areas. Flowers later in the spring with orange flowers, the petals being reddish and darker on the outside. Called the Beetle lily because of the black markings at the base of the petals that resemble beetles as in the daisy that is pollinated by such beetles.
Colchicum
Colchicum eucomoides (Men-in-a-boat)
Seen along Riverside Drive. The two outer leaves are broad, almost opposite and with the edges –up giving a boat-like shape. Then there are two large bracts (leaves on the flowering stalk) that almost completely cover a cluster of small greenish flowers.
Ornithoglossum (Snake Lilies)
Ornithoglossum viride (Eendtjies)
Very common even on roadside and pavements. Often preferring sand. The flowers are green coloured and face sideways or downwards. The seed capsules are quite large and conspicuous
Wurmbea (Spike Lilies)
Wurmbea marginata
Very common but also small and inconspicuous. Remarkably attractive and beautifully marked and well worth a good look despite the small size.
Group 3 - Hyancinthaceae family
Albuca (Slime Lilies)
These are all very similar and are not grown as ornamentals as the plants themselves are rather untidy. All the Albuca species have very similar flowers with three outer spreading petals and three crowded around the reproductive parts. They each end in an in-bent lip that covers the anthers and their pollen. The effect is to create a trap for incoming insects that will first deposit the pollen they bring on the receptive stigma. The insects are also handicapped from getting out until they have covered themselves in pollen.
Albuca fragrans
Assuming this is the right name for a species here that has a tall upright stem with many buds but drooping at the tip and straightening as the flowers open. Flowering a little later than the other species. Here it is not as spectacularly yellow flowered as I knew it along the coastal strip nearer Hermanus.
Albuca juncifolia (Sentry-in-a-box)
In this particular species the leaves are straight and firm, hence “bulrush-like".
Albuca spiralis
A smaller species with a few spiralling leaves. Just what the advantage of these leaf spirals is seems to be uncertain but it does suggest the common-name “bed-springs”. A far better name than "Slymstok" or "Slime lilies" that is actually intended for Albuca altissima – a large species from inland.
Drimia
These bulbs often flower after the leaves have dried off which makes classification quite difficult.
Drimia excuviata (Brandui)
A small plant to about 15 cm tall with delightfully fragrant flowers. The common name is derived from the irritant nature of the leaf sap. The Latin name comes from the dry wrinkled skin-like wrapping of the few leaves at the base of the leaf clump.
Lachenalia (Viooltjie)
A very large and complicated genus occurring throughout the Winter Rainfall Region.
Lachenalia bulbifera
There are two very similar species (the other is L. rubida) that have virtually the same distribution and odd flowering time from autumn to even late winter. Both have reddish elongate flowers and the differences are said to be in the length of the inner petals and the length of the filaments. A single yellow flowered plant seems to be this same species. It prefers sand.
Lachenalia contaminata
This occurs en masse in poorly drained spots and is well scented. The individual flowers are quite widely open and crowded on the flower stalk.
Lachenalia orchioides
This is the commonest species here at Fisherhaven. With an orchid-like fragrance the flowers can be bright to greenish yellow. They fade to red as they age and at a late stage of flowering can be mistaken for a different species.
Lachenalia rosea
The flowers are mostly rose-pink seemingly “contaminated” by mauve markings.
Ornithogallum dubium (Chink)
These chinks are also a classification nightmare as there are so many of “them”. This one is better known in its yellow form, and when white is confused with O. thyrsoides (I might well be doing the same) that has a more spiked flowering stalk. The darker centre to the flower of this one is taken as distinguishing. It flowers late in spring.
Group 3 - Hypoxidaceae family
p88 of the Field Guide to Fynbos by Dr. J Manning
Pauridia (Stargrass, Ploegtydblommetjie)
This genus has had some name changes as the old Spiloxene and Empodium no longer exist. Identification here is uncertain and there seem to be 5 species present, perhaps more. It needs a quite thorough exploration and unfortunately means a complete plant examination. What does worry me is the lack of general recognition of the “ochlospecies” concept and the fact that for some genera there is simply no classification solution.
Pauridia alba
Similar to P. minuta but a larger plant with also longer flowering stalks.
Pauridia capensis (Peacock Flower)
The common name seems to have been cribbed from Moraea but it is a very striking plant with a black centre. The flowers can be up to 7cm diameter and 20cm tall, so very striking in numbers.
Pauridia flaccida
Also a small species often with many red flowering stems.
Pauridia gloriosa
Pauridia minuta
This is a really tiny plant barely exceeding 3mm in height. Much of the richness of the flora is due to small size and the lack of competition in skeletal soils. So this species is in very shallow poorly drained soil.