Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: pontus on April 10, 2012, 03:38:06 PM

Title: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: pontus on April 10, 2012, 03:38:06 PM: Hello Everyone,

I need help with identifying this quite nice south african bulb...it was sent to me from South Africa about 3 years ago now as nerine bowdenii, but obviousely it is not a nerine bowdenii...

does anyone have any ideas as to what it is? when i repotted it a few weeks ago i took a picture of the bulb as well if that could be of any help to anyone...

it has the classical fan shaped leaves of a boophane...but i dont know if it is a boophane...the bulb has a long neck and a darkish maroon tunic, like a chestnut, its quite round and forming offsets, which boophanes rarely do..

Pontus
Title: Re: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: Lesley Cox on April 11, 2012, 02:52:43 AM: Viewed 35 times and still no-one has an answer for you Pontus. Must be a real puzzle this one. :D
Title: Re: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: Ezeiza on April 11, 2012, 03:20:24 AM: Tulbaghia simmleri
Title: Re: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: Lesley Cox on April 11, 2012, 04:34:04 AM: Wow! Just like that!
Title: Re: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: Paul T on April 11, 2012, 10:28:32 AM: Pontus,

Is the wavy leaf to the right of the picture the plant in question as well? The main plant in the pic looks spot on for Alberto's suggestion (not that I would have thought of it in a million years.... well done Alberto! 8)), but the wavy leaf to the right I thought may have been more of the plant. It looks even more like a Boophone.
Title: Re: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: pontus on April 11, 2012, 11:23:27 AM: Hello Paul,

no, its only the plant in the centre for ID (thank you Alberto for the ID)..the plant to th efar right is in fact a boophane disticha.

Pontus
Title: Re: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: Paul T on April 11, 2012, 12:12:35 PM: Ah, I'd thought they were both part of the same thing.

Glad that Alberto could ID it for you. While it matches the appearance now that it's been pointed out, I never would have picked Tulbaghia. :-[
Title: Re: Unknown south african bulb...?
Post by: Hoy on April 11, 2012, 03:37:16 PM: Leaves look similar but not exact like mine. However, my bulbs are some years old and fill up a pot. It is in flower now. it is in flower now, has a rather long flowering period, and the flowers have a nice scent.