BRUNSVIGIA NAMAQUANA

This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by Dietrich Müller-Doblies and Ute Müller-Doblies in 1994. It is found in south-western South Africa, growing in a well drained soil or even grit with little to some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to two centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 2,5 centimetres in height, as the leaves lie flat on the ground, ten with the inflorescence. The flowers are pink with a greenish-yellow throat. The flowers are very zygomorphic, which is unique in the genus. Zygomorphic flowers are symmetrical only in one plane, thus an orchid is zygomorphic, a lily or a daffodil are not. Further more, the leaves are covered in golden bristles. I guess someone will come up with another genus for it one day.

The name Brunsvigia, in honour of the Duke of Brunswick. The species name is after the area it is found in: Namaqualand. This is a winter-grower, but quite opportunistic. Drawing showing the bulb from Casabio.org.