Vellozia is a South American genus in the Velloziaceae family mostly found in Brazil. Most of the species look like Sisyrinchium (grasslike evergreen erect foliage, fibrous or fleshy roots, star shaped flowers). They can be very difficult to grow as their native soils are ancient, acid and poor. It is easy to poison them by providing a too rich soil. A mix of coarse peat, pumice or perlite, and coarse sand would be suitable. Iron should be added from time to time. Some of the species grow in dryish areas, others in moist ground. They hate having their roots disturbed. If seed is available it is better to sow in individual pots or cells and pot on as the plants grow. Most of the species come from frost free dry winter regions. Information courtesy of Alberto Castillo.
Vellozia sp.
This flower broke off the plant I got from Kartuz Nursery <
http://www.kartuz.com>. It is from Brazil, and I grow it in my unheated pseudo-greenhouse here in Southern California.
It is resting on a styrofoam "peanut" (so you can get an idea of it's size, maybe 1 inch/2.5 cm in diameter). My camera couldn't get the exact color very well, so I've tried to edit it to get what it actually looks like. The plant is evergreen and has a stiff, large grasslike appearance. I grow it in very well-drained potting medium and keep it watered all year round, drier in the winter. Photo by Lee Poulsen.
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