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 taken in Namaqualand. More information about the plants seen on this page can by found on the wiki genus pages. Links are included to make it easier to go directly to these pages. Species from A-F, Albuca to Ferraria, are pictured below.
Albuca canadensis, syn. Albuca maxima is found on rocky slopes. Photos taken September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller.
Albuca dilucula (Oberm.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, formerly known as Ornithogalum diluculum Oberm., grows to 25 cm. tall with a solitary spreading leaf that is dry at flowering. Photos from Andrew Harvie taken northeast of Springbok.
Albuca longipes grows in dry silty loam in karroid scrub from the Richtersveld to Biedouw Valley. Photos were taken by Andrew Harvie near Springbok.
Albuca secunda formerly known as Ornithogalum secundum is found on stony slopes and flats. Photos taken in habitat by Andrew Harvie northwest of Steinkopf.
Albuca spiralis Photo taken by Andrew Harvie in the Kamiesberg.
Albuca suaveolens, formerly known as Ornithogalum suaveolens is found on dry slopes and flats. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.
Androcymbium spp. Below are a number of unidentified species. The first two were taken in the Kamiesberg by Andrew Harvie. The last was photographed by Mary Sue Ittner.
Babiana curviscapa is a species found in Namaqualand in flat sandy places. The first photo was taken August 2001 not too far from the road. The second was taken September 2006. Photos 1-2 taken by Mary Sue Ittner. Photos 3-4 were taken by Cameron McMaster September 2011 near Kamieskroon.
Babiana dregei is found in rock crevices on hills and mountain slopes on sandy stony soil in central Namaqualand. Photos 1-5 taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006. Photo 6 taken by Cameron McMaster September 2011.
Babiana torta Photos taken September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner of the distinctive leaves and of seedpods.
Bulbinella ciliolata occurs in the vicinity of Springbok and Kamieskroon where it grows in broken veld on sandy loams of the granite hills, especially in damper depressions or by streamlets. Photo taken by Andrew Harvie of a plant growing on a farm in the Kamiesberg.
Bulbinella latifolia ssp. latifolia The first picture was taken by Mary Sue Ittner on a rainy day in a wet year (August 2001) in Namaqua National Park where it was growing in a very wet place. Other flowers were closed because of the weather, so it really stood out. The next four photos were taken in the Kamiesberg in 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Chlorophytum crassinerve is a Northern Cape species growing to 40cm that blooms August to October. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster near Carolusberg August 2011.
Crinum variabile is a species that grows in seasonal streams. Photos were taken in habitat on the road to Studer's Pass, Kamiesberg, by Andrew Harvie.
Crocosmia fucata is endemic to Namaqualand and is found in only a few places in locally moist habitats. Photos below were taken by Cameron McMaster November 2009 near Kamieskroon showing the habitat, leaves, and flowers.
Cyanella hyacinthoides Photos below from Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner were taken September 2006.
Cyanella orchidiformis The photos below were taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Drimia multifolia, syn. Tenicroa multifolia is found on rocks and poorly drained soils from southern Namibia into the western Karoo and the southwest Cape. Photos taken by Andrew Harvie in the Kamiesberg.
Eucomis regia photographed September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller.
Ferraria macrochlamys , syn. Ferraria uncinata ssp. macrochlamys, photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner in Namaqua National Park September 2006.
Ferraria variabilis, syn. Ferraria divaricata subsp. australis and Ferraria divaricata subsp. divaricata is found on sandy and shale flats and rock outcrops from Namibia to the southern Cape and the Little Karoo. Photos taken near Springbok by Andrew Harvie.
Namaqualand G-I - Namaqualand L-M - Namaqualand O - Namaqualand P-Z - Namaqualand Index