Namaqualand Three

Namaqualand is an arid area in northwest South Africa. Although it is a winter rainfall area, rainfall is sparse and the plants found in this area are not included in some of the books illustrating South African bulbs since it is not considered to be part of the Cape Floral province. For most of the year, the land appears to be a desert and because it has an average annual rainfall of 50-400 mm it could be classified as such. But in a year with adequate rainfall it becomes alive with an amazing floral display of annuals, bulbs, dwarf shrubs, and succulents. Flowering usually occurs in August and September, but dry winds which halt the display can end it sooner. In a year with little rainfall there are few flowers. Summers are hot and dry but there is occasional fog since the ocean is not that far away. Photos on this page were taken in Namaqualand. More information about the plants seen on this page can be found on the wiki genus pages. Links are included to make it easier to go directly to these pages. Species from G-I, Gethyllis to Ixia, are pictured below.


Gethyllis

Gethyllis britteniana leaves photographed by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.

Gethyllis britteniana, Namaqualand, Bob RutemoellerGethyllis britteniana, Namaqualand, Bob RutemoellerGethyllis britteniana, Namaqualand, Mary Sue Ittner

Gladiolus

Gladiolus arcuatus photographed September 2006 in Namaqua National Park by Mary Sue Ittner

Gladiolus arcuatus, Mary Sue Ittner

Gladiolus equitans was photographed in Namaqua National Park in August 2001 just after a rain by Mary Sue Ittner and in September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller in seed. It was also photographed in the Kamiesberg by Andrew Harvie.

Gladiolus equitans, Namaqualand, Mary Sue IttnerGladiolus equitans seed, Namaqualand, Bob RutemoellerGladiolus equitans, Kamiesberg, Andrew HarvieGladiolus equitans, Kamiesberg, Andrew Harvie

Gladiolus kamiesbergensis grows in rocky sites in shrubby fynbos in the Kamiesberg. Photos taken by Andrew Harvie.

Gladiolus kamiesbergensis, Andrew HarvieGladiolus kamiesbergensis, Andrew HarvieGladiolus kamiesbergensis, Andrew Harvie

Gladiolus orchidiflorus is found on clay and sandstone soils from Namibia to Cape Flats and also to Free State and flowers in the spring. Photos 1-2 were taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006. Photos 3-4 were taken near Carolusberg by Cameron McMaster September 2011.

Gladiolus orchidiflorus, Namaqualand, Bob RutemoellerGladiolus orchidiflorus, Namaqualand, Mary Sue IttnerGladiolus orchidiflorus, Carolusberg, Cameron McMasterGladiolus orchidiflorus, Carolusberg, Cameron McMaster

Gladiolus saccatus Growing alongside the road and photographed August 2001 by Mary Sue Ittner

Gladiolus saccatus, Mary Sue Ittner

Gladiolus scullyi is found on silty clay and granite slopes in the northern winter rainfall areas. Photos 1-2 taken September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller. Photos 3-4 taken by Cameron McMaster near Carolusberg September 2011.

Gladiolus scullyi, Bob RutemoellerGladiolus scullyi, Bob RutemoellerGladiolus scullyi, Cameron McMasterGladiolus scullyi, Cameron McMaster

Haemanthus

Haemanthus crispus photo taken of the leaves by Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.

Haemanthus crispus leaves, Namaqualand, Mary Sue Ittner

Haemanthus graniticus is found in coarse and granitic soils along seasonal watercourses in mountain renosterveld. Photo 1 taken by Andrew Harvie in the Kamiesberg. Photo 2 taken September 2011 by Cameron McMaster.

Haemanthus graniticus leaves, Andrew HarvieHaemanthus graniticus leaves, Cameron McMaster

Hesperantha

Hesperantha bachmannii The photos below were taken September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.

Hesperantha bachmannii, Namaqualand, Mary Sue IttnerHesperantha bachmannii, Namaqualand, Bob Rutemoeller

Hesperantha latifolia Photos taken September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner. The last one also features Romulea citrina.

Hesperantha latifolia, Namaqualand, Bob RutemoellerHesperantha latifolia, Namaqualand, Bob RutemoellerHesperantha latifolia, Namaqualand, Mary Sue Ittner

Hessea

Hessea breviflora grows in sandy pockets between rocks on lower slopes. The first photo was taken by Rob Scott near Springbok in Namaqualand. The other photos from Alan Horstmann.

Hessea breviflora, Springbok, Rob ScottHessea breviflora, Namaqualand, Alan HorstmannHessea breviflora, Namaqualand, Alan HorstmannHessea breviflora, Namaqualand, Alan Horstmann

Hessea incana Snijman is known from only three sites in the Kamiesberg where it occurs in colonies in sandy plains in granite-derived soil. Photos were taken by Alan Horstmann in the Kamiesberg in November.

Hessea incana, Alan HorstmannHessea incana, Alan HorstmannHessea incana, Alan HorstmannHessea incana, Alan HorstmannHessea incana, Alan Horstmann

Hessea pilosula grows in deep coarse sand in the Springbok area. Photos by Alan Horstmann.

Hessea pilosula, Namaqualand, Alan HorstmannHessea pilosula, Namaqualand, Alan HorstmannHessea pilosula, Namaqualand, Alan Horstmann

Hessea stellaris grows on sandy or clay flats from the northwest Cape to the western Karoo. Photo was taken by Alan Horstmann in May.

Hessea stellaris, Namaqualand, Alan Horstmann

Hessea stenosiphon is a species of the Northern Cape. Photo taken in the Kamiesberg by Alan Horstmann in May where it grows in winter-moist, humus-rich soils in boulder crevices and rock depressions.

Hessea stenosiphon, Namaqualand, Alan Horstmann

Holothrix

Holothrix aspera is found in deep sandy soils or rock pavements from Namaqualand and the western Karoo to Swellendam, South Africa. Photos taken September 2011 near Carolusberg by Cameron McMaster.

Holothrix aspera, Carolusberg, Cameron McMasterHolothrix aspera, Carolusberg, Cameron McMaster

Ixia

Ixia latifolia var. ramulosa grows in sandy soil. It has purple or mauve flowers. Photo taken in Namaqua National Park September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner.

Ixia latifolia var. ramulosa, Namaqualand, Mary Sue Ittner

Namaqualand A-F - Namaqualand L-M - Namaqualand O - Namaqualand P-Z - Namaqualand Index


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