This newsletter concerns a discussion of several species in various genera which have adopted this growing and flowering strategy. The plants concerned are a beautiful Androcymbium species, Daubenya comata, Massonia jasminiflora and an apparently undescribed Ornithogalum species.

The flowers of Androcymbium species affinis Androcymbium asteroides photographed near Theunissen in the Free State at the peak of the flowering season on 4 June 2005.

The horticultural potential of these plants is also discussed.

The photographs were taken by Carol Knoll.

NEWSLETTER.
Most bulbous plants which grow in the climatically severe South African interior grow and flower in the warm spring and summer months or else at the height of the summer rains. A few plants, however, have adapted to growing and flowering in the autumn and early winter, from mid April to mid June.

This necessitates in most cases that the bulbs grow in heavy clay or clay loam soil which may not dry out completely until well into July or early August. The growth habits of the different species are discussed below.

ANDROCYMBIUM SPECIES.
A very striking Androcymbium species probably Androcymbium asteroides grows in several parts of the north, eastern and central Free State. It occurs at a number of localities east of Bloemfontein and in the Brandfort and Theunissen areas, further eastwards. The bulbs flower at the end of May and in the first half of June. They grow mostly in loam inhabiting areas that are usually temporarily inundated in the autumn. These situations are often associated with rivers such as the Modder River east of Bloemfontein.

The situations in which the Androcymbium grows are often in partial shade for part of the day. Shade is frequently provided by clumps of Acacia karoo trees which are regularly found growing in the vicinity of Free State rivers.

The Androcymbiums are usually scattered rather thinly in suitable habitat but may be common near the Modder River creating spectacular displays of flowers at the beginning of the winter.

Two Androcymbium species affinis asteroids near Theunissen in the Free State. The plants were photographed in late afternoon sunlight on 4 June 2005

DAUBENYA COMATA.
Daubenya comata is thinly scattered in its current distribution range across the Free State and the North West Province.

The plants are declining alarmingly in places where there is heavy grazing. The hooves of grazing livestock penetrate the sticky black clay where the Daubenyas grow and the habitat dries out like cement. A few years of such grazing is enough for local extinctions of the Daubenyas. The grazing also causes the habitats to be colonised by numerous annual and perennial weeds which spring up in the disturbed ground during the summer rains.

Daubenya comata with the first few flowers opening. The plant was photographed on 4 June 2005 near the Vaal River north east of Viljoenskroon in the Free State. This specimen was one of the last plants to flower in the 2005 flowering season at this colony.

The Daubenyas often grow amongst thick grass cover. They are able to thrive in this habitat as the grasses die off in the autumn. They shrivel to a fraction of their former bulk and allow in just the right amount of sunlight for growth and flowering. The bulbs also colonise open clay patches provided that these occur in moisture retentive depressions. The plants may become very numerous in a few ungrazed habitats with very sticky thick black clay. They are on the whole rather thinly distributed in many areas particularly the western drainage basin of the Vaal River.

A mass of D. comata at the peak of the flowering season is a spectacular sight, particularly those with lavender flowers. Lavender flowered D. comata are rather scarce currently known from one area near Orkney in the vicinity of the Vaal River.

D. comata forms its seeds at ground level. In the late winter when the seeds are ready for dispersal the old seed bearing inflorescence detaches from the bulb. It is extremely light and readily blown around in the wind, dispersing seeds in even slightly windy conditions.

The first frosts of the winter generally occur in May but these make little difference to the flowering of the Daubenyas. Most of the plants are protected from any severe frost by the dead grass above them.

Daubenya comata has attractive foliage. This plant was photographed shortly after it had finished flowering on 4 June 2005. The typical sticky heavy black clay in which the bulbs grow is clearly visible. The surface of the clay cracks during the winter months, as it contracts when the habitat begins to dry out.

In some years grass fires destroy a proportion of the seed but this only happens if the fires take place at seeding time, in effect only for 2 - 3 weeks in late July and early August.

The Daubenya flowers are very strongly and spicily scented regularly attracting good numbers of diurnal and nocturnal insect pollinators.

Grass fires play a significant role in clearing the habitat of moribund grass and the dead stems of annuals and caudiciforms. Invasion of the clay habitats by introduced Kikuyu grass Pennisetum clandestinum could become a problem in the western Vaal River drainage basin. Kikuyu grass is commonly used as a lawn in resorts and towns along the Vaal River from where it escapes into and invades the surrounding grassland. Kikuyu grass transforms habitats rapidly killing off bulbs and caudiciforms.

The habitat of Daubenya comata adjacent to the Vaal River north east of Viljoenskroon in the Free State. There were numerous plants growing in this habitat with dense dry grass. Many were starting to form seed capsules after the flowering season a few weeks previously. The photograph was taken on 4 June2005.

MASSONIA JASMINIFLORA.
Massonia jasminiflora is an extremely widespread species occurring in the Eastern Cape, the eastern section of the Northern Cape, the Free State and the North West Province. The most westerly distribution of the species so far recorded is the Postmasburg district of the Northern Cape.

The plants are equally at home in the mountains of the north eastern Cape as they are in the Free State around Brandfort, Theunissen and Welkom.

The M. jasminiflora in the north eastern Cape have extremely beautiful olive red brown and ruby red pustules on their leaves. Their leaves are remarkably well camouflaged in the dolerite grit, so frequent in seepage areas on the mountains near Sterkstroom and Tarkastad. Bright lime green leaves are the commonest leaf colour in the Northern Cape, Free State and the North West Province. These leaves are invariably without pustules.

Massonia jasminiflora photographed west of Theunissen in the Free State on 4 June 2005. A large number of plants were in full flower at the beginning of the winter.

The plants in the north eastern Cape flower before the coldest winter weather sets in during the first three weeks of May. Winter temperatures frequently drop below 0†C from the end of May and the countryside experiences severe frost and snow. In milder areas in the Free State and North West Province, the flowering season is the second half of May and the first 10 days of June.

It is interesting to note that M. jasminiflora in the Postmasburg area has not evolved to have pustulate leaves. The plants occur along drainage lines amongst dark dolomite soil and gravel where their bright green leaves are conspicuous.

M. jasminiflora has flowers that are strongly fragrant. The scent resembles that of green apples but is much stronger. The flowers are fragrant by day and night.

The pustulate leaved form of Massonia jasminiflora grows in dolerite grit high up on the mountains of the north eastern Cape near Tarkastadt and Queenstown.

The Massonia seeds are distributed in late winter, in July and August. The peduncle below the inflorescence detaches from the bulb. Seeds are scattered about the veld as the old flowers are blown around in any wind, however light. August is usually a windy month in the interior ensuring that many seeds are distributed far and wide.

ORNITHOGALUM SPECIES.
Two undescribed Ornithogalum species from the North West Province have adapted to growing in the autumn in response to late rains. One of them is found on sheets of exposed dolomite near Zeerust. The plants frequent shallow soil over sheets of exposed rock. Another grows amongst calcrete pebbles on a gently sloping hill in the Delareyville district.

Both Ornithogalums have remarkably small distribution ranges in as far as it is presently known. The species near Zeerust has numerous bristles on it cryptic greyish green leaf. The one near Delareyville has a viscous surface to its leaf to which calcrete dust adheres often rendering the leaf almost invisible.

The two species are currently the subject of detailed taxonomic evaluation. The one near Delareyville may eventually prove to be a localised variant of the Zeerust plants over 200 kilometres to the north west.

Ornithogalum nova species photographed in habitat in a soil filled crack on sheets of exposed dolomite north of Lichtenburg in the North West Province. The plant was photographed at the time of the Southern Winter equinox on 21 June when many of the bulbs had well-formed flower buds.

The Ornithogalum near Delareyville was found whilst determining the status of Daubenya comata in that district. Both plants should have been frequent in the Barberton Nature Reserve where there is a great deal of suitable habitat. None were found and this seems to be attributable to ostriches which have been introduced to the reserve. Ostriches feed heavily on bulbs and corms that occur near the surface of the soil. The Ornithogalum was found growing near another pan close to the reserve. Sheep are kept on this farm and regularly graze the habitat where the Ornithogalums are found. This has made little difference to the occurrence of the bulbs as their leaves are protected from the hooves of grazing animals by angular fragments of calcrete.

The Ornithogalums have adopted the strategy of producing leaves when moisture conditions and temperatures are ideal for their growth. They have little or no competition from other vegetation at flowering time in the dead of winter. They are also conspicuous to pollinators at this time of the year when the surrounding grassland is brown and sere.

The seed distribution mechanism is similar to that for the Daubenya and Massonia. The stalks bearing the seed capsules detach from the bulbs in the windy months of August and September and the seeds are scattered across the surrounding veld.

HORTICULTURAL POTENTIAL.
The four bulbous plants all have good horticultural merit. The Daubenyas and Massonia are very ornamental container plants and easy to grow. They look particularly striking when massed together and are also strongly fragrant. The perfume produced by both species makes them attractive for courtyard gardens which emphasise fragrance as well as textures of plants.

The Androcymbium has spectacular flowers and leaves and looks effective when massed together in a dark or pale earthenware container.

Ornithogalum nova species from the Zeerust and Lichtenburg areas of the North West Province is ideally suited to ornamental container planting. The bulbs have been planted in a terracotta bowl with a rough finish, amongst dolomite gravel and stones.

The Ornithogalums make interesting dwarf foliage plants on account of their unusual leaves. They are best displayed amongst dark dolerite rocks and gravel which show up the leaves to the best effect.

Penrock Seeds and Plants has been selecting and propagating special clones of these plants for some time. Plants have been selected for aspects such as flower colour, fragrance and striking foliage.