Brunsvigia namaquana

This unique, dwarf species grows from a small bulb, no more than 2cm in diameter, which is covered with horn-like, brown tunics. The top of the bulb is contracted into a neck about 1cm long.

There are 3-4 leaves which are held pressed flat to the ground. These are narrow, elliptical and covered with short, stiff, golden bristles. These leaves alone are very unusual for this genus.

The inflorescence appear before the leaves, in autumn and stands just 12cm high. The umbel bears about 10 flowers, up to 2cm long held on 4cm pedicels. The flowers are bright pink with contrasting anthers of deep wine- purple. The flowers are very zygomorphic, this is unique in the genus. ( Zygomorphic flowers are symmetrical only in one plane, thus an orchid is zygomorphic, a lily or a daffodil are not). Zygomorphic flowers are considered the most highly evolved.

This is a very rare plant, restricted to a few stations in the wild, and highly vulnerable both to disturbance and agriculture. This is only very rarely offered, in fact this is only our third time since we started trading in 1972.