Androcymbium is a genus in the Colchicaceae family found in Africa and the Mediterranean. The common names for species in the genus are cup-and-saucer and men-in-a-boat. There are about 40 species and 13 of them are in the Cape Floral province. Species in this genus have few erect flowers on short pedicels and are usually in a head overtopped by green or petaloid bracts. Recent taxonomic changes by Manning, Forest & Vinnersten (2007) suggest that Androcymbium be included in Colchicum. However, inclusion of Androcymbium into the already large genus Colchicum is made for "practical" reasons. The author state that there were no morphological characters that separated certain groups of Androcymbium found by molecular evidence. We await a full revision of the genus Androcymbium and until such a revision occurs, we will keep the genus Androcymbium separated from Colchicum based on their morphological classification.
Androcymbium burchellii Baker (syn. Colchicum coloratum subsp. burchellii (Baker) J.C.Manning & Vinn.) is found on stony clay flats in the western Karoo, Bokkeveld Mountains to the Little Karro. It is a prostrate plant with ovate white to green bracts that flowers July to September. The first one was photographed on the road to Middlepos August 2001 by Mary Sue Ittner and the next two in the Roggeveld September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner. The last photo was taken by Alan Horstmann.
These photos by Mary Sue Ittner show plants grown from seed and blooming in Northern California for the first time in December 2003. There are three views, one of the plants in a pot, one looking down on the flowers, and the third a close-up showing the bracts and the stamens. It most closely resembles Androcymbium latifolium in the key in The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs but Julian Slade thinks it may be a hybrid with it and another species. Since that species is now included in Androcymbium burchellii which looks similar except for the color of the bracts, perhaps this is the logical place to add it. A final photo taken when dormant shows the corms. This plant has not liked the wet humid coastal Northern California winters.
Androcymbium capense (L.) Druce (syn. Colchicum capense (L.) J.C.Manning & Vinn.) is a stemless plant found on clay or loam flats from Namaqualand to the western Karoo and Swellendam, South Africa. Flowers are enclosed in large white bracts, sometimes striped green. Photo 1 was taken by Rod Saunders and photo 2 was taken by Gottfried Milkuhn of a plant in cultivation.
Androcymbium ciliolatum Schltr. & Krause (syn. Colchicum capense subsp. ciliolatum (Schltr. & K. Krause) J.C. Manning & Vinn.) is found throughout Namaqualand in sandy, often moist places, southwards to Piketberg. The 2 lanceolate basal leaves, up to 15 cm. long, have a minutely fringed margin and are at ground level. The clusters of many white flowers is surrounded by pale green, almost white bracts. Photos 1-2 were taken by Bill Dijk and photos 3-4 were taken by Gottfried Milkuhn.
Androcymbium dregei Presl (syn. Colchicum dregei (C. Presl) J.C. Manning & Vinn.) is found on sheltered rock outcrops from Namaqualand to the Karoo. It flowers in winter. Photo by Alessandro Marinello
Androcymbium eucomoides (syn. Colchicum eucomoides) is native to native to the Western Cape of South Africa. The photo below was taken by Gottfried Milkuhn of plants in cultivation.
Androcymbium europaeum (syn. Colchicum europaeum) is native to southeastern Spain to northwestern Morocco. The photo below was taken by Gottfried Milkuhn of a plant in cultivation.
Androcymbium latifolium Schinz is now included by many in Androcymbium burchellii, but this is complicated by whether or not to name it Colchicum. The synonyms are Androcymbium pulchrum Schltr. & K. Krause, Androcymbium burchellii subsp. pulchrum (Schltr. & K. Krause) Pedrola, Membrives, J.M.Monts. & Caujapé, and Colchicum coloratum subsp. coloratum J.C. Manning & Vinn. It has 2 lance shaped leaves and flowers enclosed in large reddish bracts. The first photograph below was taken by Mary Sue Ittner August 2001 in the Nieuwoudtville Reserve where it was growing in heavy red doleritic clay and the second and third photos were taken by Bob Rutemoeller near Middelpos in the Roggeveld September 2006. The third photo shows this species blooming with Romulea subfistulosa. The last photo was taken by Alan Horstmann.
Androcymbium longipes Baker (syn. Colchicum longipes (Baker) J.C. Manning & Vinn.) is found in moist slopes and stony grasslands from the Karoo to the Eastern Cape. It has lanceolate channeled leaves and flowers clustered between leaf-like bracts. Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller, Mary Sue Ittner and Cameron McMaster at Naude's Nek and Tiffendell in the Drakensberg Mountains in the Eastern Cape.
Androcymbium spp. Below are a number of unidentified species.
Rogan Roth would love to know what this attractive Androcymbium species is called. These are plants grown from seed ex. Silverhill Seeds and are easy to grow, proliferating rapidly.
Species seen and photographed in Namaqualand are pictured below. The first two were taken in the Kamiesberg by Andrew Harvie. The last was photographed by Mary Sue Ittner.
Androcymbium rechingeri (syn. Colchicum rechingeri) is native to western Kriti to northern Libya. The photo below was taken by Gottfried Milkuhn of plants in cultivation.
Androcymbium striatum Hochst. ex A.Rich. (syn. Colchicum striatum (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) J.C.Manning & Vinn.), is found on damp ground among rocks and gravel patches from 1800-3000 meters from the Eastern Cape, South Africa to Tropical Africa. Leaves are slender and keeled and flowerheads hidden within large white petal-like bracts that are striped with green or violet. Photos by Cameron McMaster taken in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Androcymbium volutare Burch. (syn. Colchicum volutare (Burch.) J.C.Manning & Vinn.) is found in gravelly clay in karroid scrub from the western Karoo to Little Karoo. It has several narrow leaves that are coiled. Flowers are enclosed in a pair of pale green upright bracts with coiled tips. Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner in Calvinia September 2006.
