Previous plant

Eriospermum zeyheri

Next plant

Photo by Cok Grootscholten from Cradock road Grahamstown.


If not Eriospermun zeyheri, then a close related.
Photo from Euphorbia and the other Succulents.


Wild plants from Soilandroots.com.

Author:  Robert Allen Dyer, 1954
Family:  ERIOSPERMACEAE*
Origin:  Central + Southern Africa
Soil:  Grit
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  8 Centimetres
Height:  15 Centimetres
Flower:  White / Maroon
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  -
Synonyms:  -

This member of the Eriospermaceae family was described by Robert Allen Dyer in  1954. It is found in central and southern South Africa. The caudex can grow to eight centimetres in diameter, the leaves up to fifteen centimetres. The flowers are white with light maroon stripes. It is growing in grit with some water and some sun.

I really don't know much about this plant. The Royal Botanical Garden of Kiew: The family comprises a single genus, with 102 species according to the recent revision, found only in Africa south of the Sahara, with a concentration in the western Cape Province of South Africa. It is easily recognised in fruit by the densely hairy seeds, and also by the bristly neck of old leaf-sheaths and leaves with a petiole-like base. It has little economic, medicinal or horticultural value but is botanically interesting for being a very isolated and advanced family.

The genera name from Greek; erion; 'woll' and Greek sperma; 'seed'. The species name after Karl L. P. Zeyher, 1799-1858, a German naturalist and botanical explorer in South Africa.

*)Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Eriospermaceae is now part of the Asparagaceae.

This is a winter-grower.


Wild plants from Soilandroots.com.