Geissorhiza Species One

Geissorhiza species A-G are found on this wiki page. See the links below for information about this genus and other species.


Geissorhiza indexGeissorhiza species H-LGeissorhiza species M-Z


Geissorhiza aspera is found on mostly sandy soils, flats, and slopes in the western Cape. It has blue to violet flowers that appear in spring. The first photo was taken by Bill Dijk, the second by Cameron McMaster at Hermanus, and the third by Mary Sue Ittner at Darling.
Geissorhiza aspera, Bill Dijk Geissorhiza aspera, Hermanus, Cameron McMaster Geissorhiza aspera, Darling, Mary Sue Ittner
Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner taken at Lion’s Head, Table Mountain National Park, September 2006 where they were blooming in mass and one was white.
Geissorhiza aspera, Lion’s Head, Bob Rutemoeller Geissorhiza aspera, Lion’s Head, Bob Rutemoeller Geissorhiza aspera, Lion’s Head, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza aspera, Lion’s Head, Mary Sue Ittner


Geissorhiza brehmii is closely related to G. imbricata. G. brehmii , a species of the southwest Cape, grows in wetter habitats, often in standing water or sites wet in winter. Flowers are white to cream and leaves are terete and inflated or somewhat succulent. It flowers in spring. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.
Geissorhiza brehmii, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza brehmii, Mary Sue Ittner


Geissorhiza confusa is found on rocky sandstone slopes in fynbos in the northwest and southwest Cape where it flowers in spring, especially after a fire. It has cream to white flowers with darker veins. Photos by Jana Ulmer of a single surviving plant grown from seed blooming May 2004 in Northern California and a photo of the corm (on a 1 cm. square grid) by Mary Sue Ittner
Geissorhiza confusa, Jana Ulmer Geissorhiza confusa, Jana Ulmer Geissorhiza confusa, Jana Ulmer Geissorhiza confusa corm, Mary Sue Ittner


Geissorhiza corrugata is found on shale slopes southwest of Calvinia. It has bright yellow flowers and spirally twisted leaves. Photo taken by Rod Saunders.
Geissorhiza corrugata, Rod Saunders


Geissorhiza darlingensis, is quite rare in the wild found only in Tinie Versfeld Wildflower Reserve in Darling. It needs to be hand-pollinated to set seed and only opens fully on hot still days. The first photo was taken by Sheila Burrow and the next three by Mary Sue Ittner of flowers in bud and only partially opening. She finds this species to be challenging to grow and was thrilled finally to have one bloom after several attempts growing it from seed. The final picture was taken by Alan Horstmann in habitat.
Geissorhiza darlingensis, Sheila Burrow \ Geissorhiza darlingensis, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza darlingensis, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza darlingensis, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza darlingensis, Alan Horstmann


Geissorhiza eurystigma grows in sandy soils near the coast in the southwest Cape. It has deep blue-violet flowers with a bright red center and cupped tepals. This first photograph was taken in habitat near Darling September 2001 by Mary Sue Ittner. The second picture is from Alan Horstmann. And the third picture of one of Alan’s flowers was taken by Bob Rutemoeller
Geissorhiza eurystigma, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza eurystigma, Alan Horstmann Geissorhiza eurystigma, Alan Horstmann’s plant, Bob Rutemoeller photograph


Geissorhiza exscapa , syn. Engysiphon exscapus has large cream to ivory flowers with a long slender tube and projecting anthers. It flowers September to October and is found on sandy flats and slopes, mainly along the northwest and southwest coast. This picture taken by Roy Herold in the hills above Muizenburg, south of Cape Town, in October 2002 is most likely this species.
Geissorhiza exscapa, Roy Herold


Geissorhiza geminata is found in marshes and pools in the northwest Cape. Photos by Sheila Burrow and Mary Sue Ittner of a group of flowers blooming March 2005 and the distinctive corms.
Geissorhiza geminata, Sheila Burrow Geissorhiza geminata, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza geminata corms, Mary Sue Ittner

Seen blooming in mass in a wet area near Tulbagh August 2006 where it was being pollinated by monkey beetles that were almost as large as the flowers. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner
Geissorhiza geminata, Tulbagh, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza geminata, Tulbagh, Mary Sue Ittner


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Page last modified on March 26, 2009, at 05:46 PM