STRUMARIA TRUNCATA

This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin in 1786. It is found in the western parts of the Northern Cape in South Africa, growing in sand or well drained clayish soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The caudex can grow to three and a half centimetres in diameter, the leaves to fifteen centimetres in height. The flowers are white or pale pink.

The genera name from Latin, struma; 'a cushion-shaped swelling', and - aria which relates to 'possessing', a name that refers to the swollen base of the style. The species name means 'cut off'. This is a winter-grower. In summer, when is is dormant, the bulbs should be keep completely dry. The strange, striking deep reddish-maroon aerial sheath (known as a cataphyll in botanical terms) which supports the base of the leaves. Only found on this genera.