Lapeirousia plicata ?

I found this Lapeirousia sp just next to the colony of Gethyllis spiralis. The population is quite small and maybe worth protecting together with the Gethyllis. I have not found them growing anywhere else on the reserve yet.

Once it flowers it maybe identified with greater certainty.

I include pictures for comparison of Lapeirousia pyramidalis which occurs in great numbers only about 50 meters + of this species.

Also pictures of Lapeirousia plicata from the Tanqua Karoo. The leaves are fairly different from the plants at  Die Fontein.

Follow up 160918: I went there in the hope to find flowering plants for identification. Unfortunately the tiny colony was almost completely destroyed by porcupines. Also the adjoining large colony of L pyramidalis was about 90% destroyed.  Luckily the Gethyllis were left alone. I do not know for how long. Identification will thus have to wait a while. Fortunately I have a number of young seedlings of the unidentified Lapeirousia. It will take a few years before  these flower

         

Lapeirousia sp near and northwest of the house.

                

\Lapeirosia sp  left Lapeirosia pyramidalis right

  

Lapeirousia plicata Tanqua Karoo

   

Lapeirousia plicata Tanqua Karoo

Cyphia sylvatica

Bulb found numerous places especially southern side. It is a twining plant needing the support of other shrub. Flowers quite variable and may need more info to establish the exact Cyphia species.

Othonna auriculifolia

Plant with aster like flowers and underground tuber. Found in middle and western section of the reserve. The flowers appear in winter. The ray florets (which look like outer petals) can be white or yellow. The disc florets (middle section) reddish with yellow.

At Zeekoegat the ray florets are white. I have not seen the flowers at the fountain yet. Could be white or yellow.

Wurmbia spicata

Spotted in southern section and western section. Mostly quite rare.

Starting to flower.

Eriospermum graminifolia

Thin long single leaf. Flowers on peduncle about 30 cm high. Seems quite rare. One plant spotted in southern area. Difficult to find amongst shrub. Identification not wth 100% certainty.

Eriospermum capense

Leaves heart shaped to somewhat elongated. Single leaf per plant. No hairs on leaf. Leaf usually not completely flat on the ground. Underneath side of leaf often reddish. Plants can be solitary or proliferate( form clumps). The proliferate forms usually have smaller leaves.

Picture not from reserve.

Picture not from reserve.

Flowers.

An interesting corrugate leaf form from the western side of the reserve.

(I have not seen the flowers but assume this still to be E capense)

Gethyllis lanceolata (Apodolirion lanceolatum)

Found sporadically throughout the reserve. Sometimes difficult to distinguish from other bulbs. A distinguishing factor is that the leaves always protrude from under the ground to on top of the soil so that not the whole leaf is not visible in its entirety. The bulbs are winter growing and considered quite rare. They do occur however over a wide area in the Little Karoo including coastal areas . The white flowers pop out of the ground around the end of January while the rest of the bulb is dormant. Flowering only lasts a few days.The soft cylindrical fruit appears usually early April. The tiny seeds are often visible inside and germinate unaided similar to other plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family.

The common name is Kukumakranka.

Leaves.

Flowers.

Gethyllis spiralis

Found throughout the reserve with a higher concentration west of the house. This area may be in need of protection as the plants are quite rare, probably more so than Gethyllis lanceolatum.

The white flowers pop out of the ground around the end of November or early December while the rest of the bulb is dormant. Similar to Gethyllis lanceolata flowering only lasts a few days.The soft cylindrical fruit appears usually early April. The tiny seeds are often visible inside and germinate unaided similar to other plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family.

Common name: Kukumakranka.

The leaf arrangement is quite variable.

Flowering in habitat late November.

Fruit.