Wachendorfia is a genus of 4 species in the Haemodoraceae family found in the winter rainfall area of South Africa. Some are evergreen and some deciduous. They have bright red rhizomes with papery tunics and yellow to orange flowers with pale to dark markings on the base of the upper tepals.
Wachendorfia brachyandra is a short species with apricot yellow flowers found in sandy places between the Cape Peninsula and Saldanha in the winter rainfall area of South Africa. It differs from Wachendorfia paniculata , another short species by having clustered stamens and style half as long as the tepals and flowers that wither shortly before midday. Photographed at Tienie Versveld reserve on August 24 2004 by John Grimshaw.
Wachendorfia multiflora has dull yellow to brownish purple flowers and grows on sandstone and granitic soils in Namaqualand, the Cape Peninsula and the Karoo.It has narrow tepals and leaves longer than the stem.
Wachendorfia paniculata has pale yellow to bright apricot flowers and is found in mainly sandstone soils over a wide area. This species which is also short, has flowers that wither late afternoon and spreading stamens and styles two-thirds to three-quarters as long as the tepals. The first picture by Bob Rutemoeller was taken late August 2003 at Boskloof and the next two by Cameron McMaster of plants growing in Napier in the Overberg. A final picture taken in the hills above Muizenburg, south of Cape Town, in October 2002 by Roy Herold.
Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is an evergreen, tall plant found in permanent marshes, streams, and swampy places. It has a crowded panicle of golden yellow flowers and pleated leaves and a long blooming time. Photos from Bob Rutemoeller of plants growing in Northern California next to a pond and blooming May 2005.
For more information and illustrations consult Bill Richardson's 
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