Massonia is a genus in the Hyacinthaceae family found in dry areas in southern Africa. Species have two prostrate or spreading leaves and a head-like inflorescence at ground level with large and leafy bracts and tubular flowers with the filaments shortly joined together at the base. Seeds are formed in a three angled papery capsule which as it dries elongates and easily lifts out or is detached to disperse the seeds. Most species are winter growers and bloom early so probably need to be started into growth in late summer, early fall. Easily grown from seed and making a nice pot plant; each year they increase in size and the leaves can soon become crowded. Eventually one to a container may be about right.
Massonia bifolia syn. Whiteheadia bifolia was reclassified as Massonia based on convincing evidence by Manning, Goldblatt & Fay (2004). It doesn't arouse enthusiasm in flower writers, and I expected to like it only out of family loyalty, but when I saw it growing, I liked it for its robust self. It grows in arid winter-rainfall areas of South Africa, tucked in under rocks to provide shade. Its cluster of green flowers with a topknot of bracts looks similar to Eucomis, and they are both in the same family. Rodents are said to sip its nectar, and there are lots of rodent droppings to the left of the flower stalk in the second picture. The first two photographs were taken by Diane Whitehead in Namaqualand in early September 2006. Two more pictures were taken in the same place at the same time by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.
Massonia depressa is native to dry area of the South African Cape and Namaqualand. This species is pollinated by rodents including gerbils. The flowers are low to the ground, dull colored, with a yeasty odor and sucrose-dominant jelly-like nectar that is easy for the rodents to lap. Anthers on this species are more than 2 mm. long, longer than on other species in the Cape. The first three pictures below by Mary Sue Ittner show this species blooming for the first time from seed in a pot that probably should be bigger. The second photo is a close-up of the flowers and the last shows the nectar. The fourth picture was taken by Alan Horstmann and the last by Cameron McMaster.
Massonia echinata is widespread in the Cape and is found in dry areas. It has smooth, hairy or pustulate-hairy, sometimes spotted leaves with cream to white fading pink honey scented flowers. The description of it is very similar to Massonia pustulata. The filaments of this species are usually shorter however. Although the plant pictured below was grown from seed identified as Massonia pustulata I believe it to be Massonia echinata. The first three photos by Mary Sue Ittner show it in different stages: bud, flower, seed. In the first picture it is next to a plant that is Massonia pustulata. That plant emerges later, has a purplish tinge and is very pustulate, with smaller leaves and more attractive flowers. Every year the leaves of this plant get bigger so that I need fewer to a pot or a bigger pot. The leaves are very attractive, especially if protected from the elements.
The next first two photos of Massonia echinata were taken near Napier in the Overberg by Cameron McMaster. The last two pictures were taken by Alan Horstmann.
Massonia jasminiflora is widespread in the Eastern Cape and into the Free State, at relatively high altitudes in montane grassland and stony ground. Leaves sometimes with reddish streaks, sometimes with pustules or knobbly, up to 6 cm long. White flowers are strongly scented like jasmine. Although this one grows in a summer-rainfall area, it grows and flowers in winter. Photos by Cameron McMaster except for the last one from Mary Sue Ittner.
Massonia pustulata is a short plant, only 5 cm high. It can have smooth or wonderful pustulate leaves and cream to pink flowers. It blooms in winter and makes a charming pot plant. The first photos by Mary Sue Ittner show a plant with pustulate leaves and the flowers as they are first opening and then some time later. The next photos show plants in subsequent years being pollinated. Photo five was taken by Cameron McMaster. The last photo by David Pilling shows four month old seedlings in a 2" pot.
Massonia pygmaea (syn. Neobakeria heterandra, Massonia heterandra) is a very dainty little miniature Massonia with short tufts of white flowers between ciliate prostrate leaves. Best grown in pots, in sandy free draining potting mixture, in full sun. Dry off completely when dormant. Photos by Bill Dijk and Alan Horstmann.
Massonia sp. nov. is a diminutive species from the highest crags of the eastern Drakensberg mountains - note the purplish campanulate corollas in the second image. This one blooms in summer. Submitted by Rogan Roth with photos by Paul Roth.
Massonia wittebergensis was previously listed as Massonia echinata. It has recently been described by Ute Müller-Doblies and Dietrich Müller-Doblies. The name is derived from a record made by the Drège brothers on the southern slopes of the Witteberg (near the present town of Lady Grey) at an altitude of 7000-8000 ft in January 1833. The species has subsequently been found at other high altitude localites in the Southern Drakensberg - like Naude's Nek and Ben Macdhui. So far as is known, it is the only summer flowering Massonia with peak flowering in December and going dormant in winter. According to the description it is the only species with "a very characteristic indumentum on the upperside of the leaves of laterally compressed bristles of 0.6 up to 1.0 mm in length which are often curved and sometimes forked, and bearing on the rounded top protruding cells". The first two photos from Cameron McMaster were taken January 2008 of plants growing in gravel pockets above Tiffendell on the way up to the summit of Ben Macdhui.
The photos below were taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner at Naude's Nek. A small coin in one of the photos gives a good idea of how small these plants are and another shows the gravelly habitat.
For more information and some spectacular close-up photos see the Wisley Alpine Log written by Paul Cumbleton.