Eriospermum dregei, Bethelsdorp area

Fig.1 E. dregei, Bethelsdorp area

Three plants are in a pot. Each plant develops a typical enation of the species.

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Comments

Eriospermum dregei is characterized by its unique enation as well as the warty tuber. The hairy enation starts as a single, short cylindrical trunk and at the top forms several branches which branch individually a few times.
Several hairs on the enation develop at a point and it is another distinguishing feature, by which you can tell a dubious plant from E. paradoxum.
E. dregei is the most popular species of the genus Eriospermum among plant growers. Though the most sought-after species should be E. paradoxum however, E. dregei is far more available than that species, thus more people have E.dregei plants.
The plants from Bethelsdorp area look just like the type of the species. They are easy-flowering here to some extent as a winter-growing Eriospermum.

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Cultivation notes

They are robust as a enation-bearing Eriospermum but not the robustest. They need full sun under frost-free conditon and moderate watering in growing period.

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Information of the plant

Subgenus Eriospermum
Section Eriospermum
Scientific name Eriospermum dregei Schonland
Collection No. -
Locality Bethelsdorp area, nr Port Elizabeth
Growing seasonwinter

Eriospermum descendens

Fig.1 E. descendens

planted in a larger pot for the plant size, expecting it to stretch stolons freely.
It was situated at a somewhat shaded place for a while but it held the prostrate characteristic.

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Comments

Eriospermum descendens has another type of leaf that is almost round and lies flat on the ground. The species is famous for the clump forming nature by stolons.
The plant presented here is a newcomer to our greenhouse. We have not seen the flowers. We do not know how fast it can proliferate vegetatively, either.

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Cultivation notes

The plant seems to accept ordinary care of Eriospermums, though our experience on the species is insufficent.

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Information of the plant

Subgenus Cyathiflorum
Section Rotatum
Scientific name Eriospermum descendens
Marloth ex P.L. Perry
Collection No. -
Locality -
Growing seasonwinter

Eriospermum aphyllum

Comments

This plant is more like the type of Eriospermum aphyllum than the IB10404 plants. The wiry peduncle goes once sideward then goes upright and develops a raceme. The upper part of pedicels have no flower buds from the begining. Such pedicels are produced solely for photosynthesis.
In juvenile stage or in stressing conditions, E. aphyllum plants tend to develop less flowers. One of them is so particular that it has not developed any flowers for years, though it is vigorous enough to develop multiple peduncles(Fig.2).

Fig.1 E. aphyllum, no locality

starts to flower in the middle of autumn. The peduncles once go sideward, then go upward.

Fig.2 Peduncles of E. aphyllum

This is another plant presumably from the same locality.
All flower stalks and no flowers.

Fig.3 Cotyledons

Seeds of E. aphyllum will germinate just in a few weeks. The germination rate is preferably high if sown in proper condition.

Fig.4 One year old seedlings

The plants develop one erect thread-like leaf while they are too young to produce a peduncle.

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Cultivation notes

Once matured, this plant can accept care for ordinary Eriospermums. However, if you want to see it flower more, you should take modified care arranged for the humid loving Eriospermum.

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Information of the plant

Subgenus Ligulatum
Section Photopedicellatum
Scientific name Eriospermum aphyllum Marloth
Collection No. -
Locality -
Growing seasonwinter

Eriospermum aphyllum, IB10404

Fig.1 E. aphyllum, IB10404

In flower under the autumn sun.
Remark the corymb-like inflorescence and the glaucous peduncles.

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Comments

Eriospermum aphyllum is the representative species of section Photopedicellatum. The section consists of several species which perform photosynthesis mainly at the peduncle and pedicels. The flower stalk usually persists throughout growing season, even after it scatters seeds and the fruits are gone.
The E. aphyllum, IB10404 plants are smaller and easy flowering. The corymb-like inflorescens is the most remarkable characteristics of the plants. The flowers are also small for the species but look beautiful with greener midnerve on the white petal.

Fig.3 Peduncles and pedicels

The above plants after seed dispersion. These funny structures keep on standing until it gets warm enough.

Fig.4 Cotyledons

The woolly heads are smaller, reflecting the small seed size.

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Cultivation notes

Eriospermum aphyllum plant seems to favor a little more humid condition than ordinary Eriospermums and water should be given before the soil surface gets completely dry. It is not recommended to pot any part of the tuber exposed on the soil for the same reason.

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Information of the plant

Subgenus Ligulatum
Section Photopedicellatum
Scientific name Eriospermum aphyllum Marloth
Collection No. IB10404
Locality Gifberg
Growing seasonwinter

Haworthias

Though Haworthias are from only arid areas in South Africa, they are one of the most popular plants for succulent enthusiasts in the world. They are small but very patient of drought as long as the temperature is moderate.

Haworthias' leaves have a large variety of shapes, markings and textures. Moreover many of them have various patterns of translucent part on the leaves. We can say that variety of Haworthia plants is virtually infinite.
Easiness of Haworthia's cultivation is remarkable yet you should understand that they really hate both damp soil and excessive humidity.

Ornithogalums

Besides 'Star of Bethlehem' some Ornithogalums from southern Africa are marked by interesting foliage. Ornithogalum apertum has many spiral leaves and O. unifoliatum has only one leaf which looks like a pestle or a baseball bat.
They are also easy to grow at cool greenhouse but species with special foliage are rarely offered at the present.

Massonias and their allies

These bulbous plants are very impressive for opposite leaves as well as a brushy umbel of flowers. They form into very small genera of just several species though, the identification and classification are still confusing in horticultural scene.
Massonias are the most popular of all the allies. Especially Massonia pustulata has been already so popular among succulent growers in Japan that it may be considered a common species.
Both Massonias and Polyxenas are comparably easy to grow but we don't know whether Daubenyas are the same or not because we have little experience of them.