Geissorhiza radians (Thunb.) Goldblatt

국표에는 없다.

Looking much like half-full wine glasses, Geissorhiza radians lights up the veld in late spring, providing a spectacular but uncommon sight.

Description

Geissorhiza radians is one of the most beautiful and well known species in the genus, having deep purple flowers with a large red centre usually separated by a fine white ring. Plants are normally 80 - 160 mm high and each plant may have from one to six flowers during the season.  This is a geophyte which dies back to a small bulb during the summer months and experiences fairly dry conditions. Plants normally flower in the third year from seed and can form vast expanses in wet areas.

Distribution and habitat

Geissorhiza radians is found in seasonally marshy areas north of Cape Town, around Darling, and puts on an incredible show in mid spring. It is often found growing alongside Sparaxis bulbifera, another common wetland species. There are two other species which have similar flower colouring which also grow in the same area. G. mathewsii has slightly smaller flowers with a brighter shade of red and G. eurystigma has flowers with more muted tones. All three species are fairly restricted in their range and are quite sought after during the spring months by flower enthusiasts.

Geissorhiza radians has a fairly limited distribution with the main populations being around the town of Darling. It is also found in smaller patches through to Gordon's Bay. The plants nearly always occurs in seasonally moist wetlands which become dry in the summer months.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

The name Geissorhiza is derived from the Greek words geisson and rhiza which mean 'tile' and 'root' respectively. This is reference to a tunic which covers the corms like a roof tile. Geissorhiza belongs to the family Iridaceae which comprises plants with a bulb-like structure which is used as a storage organ during the dormant period. The genus Geissorhiza comprises more than 80 species in South Africa and is closely related to the genus Hesperantha, the main difference being that most Hesperantha are night bloomers.

Geissorhiza radians | PlantZAfrica (sanbi.org)

 

 

 

 

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