Albuca namaquensis


Quick Characteristics:

Flower Colors: yellow
 

Albuca namaquensis Baker (syn. Albuca circinata Baker) is distributed from Namibia to the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is found on sandstone slopes and grows up to 30 cm high. The leaves are scabrid (rough or scaly) or hairy or smooth. If hairs are present, they are not glandular. In dry and sunny conditions its leaves coil like Albuca spiralis and thus these plants are often mistakenly called A. spiralis. In cultivation, the leaves may remain evergreen if water is available. The first three photos below were taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller near Middelpos in the Roggeveld. The first photo shows a plant that is typically different from the other ones in cultivation in having a reddish pedicel. The fourth photo was taken by Cameron McMaster in Namaqualand.

Albuca namaquensis, Middelpos, Mary Sue IttnerAlbuca namaquensis, Middelpos, Mary Sue IttnerAlbuca namaquensis, Middelpos, Bob RutemoellerAlbuca namaquensis, Kamieskroon, Cameron McMaster

Photos 1-6 below by Mary Sue Ittner show new leaves emerging September 2004 after a dry period in the summer and the flowers. The last photo shows a bulb on a 1 cm grid.

Albuca namaquensis, Mary Sue IttnerAlbuca namaquensis, Mary Sue IttnerAlbuca namaquensis, Mary Sue IttnerAlbuca namaquensis, Mary Sue IttnerAlbuca namaquensis, Mary Sue IttnerAlbuca namaquensis bulb, Mary Sue Ittner

The first two photos below were taken by Uluwehi Knecht, who feels the flowers smell like Play-Doh. The last photo by Bob Rutemoeller was taken of a plant growing in a pot in the bulb room at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

Albuca namaquensis, Uluwehi KnechtAlbuca namaquensis,  Uluwehi KnechtAlbuca namaquensis, Bob Rutemoeller, Kirstenbosch

The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen showing various aspects of the plant.

Albuca namaquensis, Nhu NguyenAlbuca namaquensis, Nhu NguyenAlbuca namaquensis, Nhu NguyenAlbuca namaquensis, Nhu NguyenAlbuca namaquensis, Nhu NguyenAlbuca namaquensis, Nhu Nguyen

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Page last modified on July 25, 2022, at 06:58 AM