The pictures below are of Romuleas that are native to South Africa, grown from seed or seen in the wild. Many of the species are very similar and difficult to tell apart. Sometimes it is necessary to examine the bracts and bracteoles and often looking at the corm is very helpful. Photos of the different corms will be added as available. Species from 0 to S are shown on this page.
European And Mediterranean Romuleas – South African Romulea A-D – South African Romulea E-K – South African Romulea L-N – South African Romulea T-Z – Romulea index
Romulea pearsonii grows in sandy soils on the Kamiesberg and flats to the west in Namaqualand. It has lemon yellow flowers and is similar to Romulea citrina but is distinguished by having brown streaks on the margins and tip of the bracts. Photos taken by Rod Saunders and Bob Rutemoeller of ones being grown by Gordon Summerfield in South Africa.
Romulea rosea is found on sandy and clay slopes and flats and is widespread in many different geographical areas of the Cape. Photos by Lauw de Jager and Alan Horstmann.
Romulea rosea comes in many sizes. This first one which had a very small flower was grown from seed that was supposed to be something else. This smaller form is a weed in Australia. This larger form was seen growing near Tulbagh August 2006. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Romulea sabulosa, blooms in late winter early spring in the Northwest Cape. It is one of the most spectacular Romuleas with large shiny red flowers. The photo below by Bob Rutemoeller shows how beautiful they are in a pot and those from Mary Sue Ittner show the beautiful bud and the bright shiny red color of an individual flower. See photo above under R. monadelpha which shows it blooming next to this species for comparison.
Flowering in mass in Nieuwoudtville, South Africa in a wet year, where it was growing in wet sand. Photo by Bob Rutemoeller.
Romulea setifolia is found on sandy flats from the Bokkeveld Mountains and western Karoo to Port Elizabeth. It has yellow to apricot flowers, sometimes with dark blotches in the throat. Flowering in August 2006 near Tulbagh where it was growing close to Romulea rosea. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner show a grouping, a close-up, and the back.
Romulea sladenii grows on the Gifberg in the northwest Cape on rocky sandstone flats. It is white with a yellow cup. Photos by Bob Werra.
Romulea sp. This Romulea was grown from Silverhill seed called Romulea namaquensis. It was collected in Namaqualand, but does not fit the description of that species and may instead be a new unnamed species. I have had poor luck growing these no doubt because they are unhappy in my much wetter climate. Of the orginal 11 seeds that germinated fall 2001, only two corms have survived. One gorgeous flower bloomed in 2006. There are two basal leaves and two stem leaves. When closed the flower looked red. The flower only opened late in the day. Perhaps it wasn't warm enough although it was a period of warmer than usual weather for this time of the year. Flowers originally looked almost gold, but on later days became salmon and then orange when open with reddish lines in the throat of the flower. Photos showing the stages as the flower slowly opened and on subsequent days. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner
Romulea subfistulosa grows on dolerite flats from Calvinia to the Roggeveld Escarpment. It is pink with dark blotches at the edge of a yellow cup. The first one shown below is grown by Alan Horstmann in South Africa, photographed by Bob Rutemoeller and the second photo is from Bob Werra.
The first two photos were taken in habitat by Cameron McMaster. The third from Alan Horstmann, probably also in habitat, shows one growing with Romulea unifolia.
The first two photos taken September 2006 in the Roggeveld near Middelpos by Bob Rutemoeller show the flower before it has opened with the interesting back and bract (with a closed Hesperantha cucullata) and a group of three, all with a little different markings in the cup. The last photo by Mary Sue Ittner shows two variants found the same day, one white and one pink.
Romulea syringodeoflora is found on shale flats and slopes near Sutherland in the Roggeveld and blooms in spring. It has magenta pink flowers that are salver-shaped with a yellow center and curved sparsely hairy leaves. It resembles plants in the genus Syringodea but has a different leaf structure and bifid style branches. It is one of four species with a narrow cylindrical perianth tube. The first photo taken by Mary Sue Ittner of plants in Alan Horstmann's bulb collection in South Africa. The second photo was taken by Alan Horstmann.
European And Mediterranean Romuleas – South African Romulea A-D – South African Romulea E-K – South African Romulea L-N – South African Romulea T-Z – Romulea index
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