Gethyllis Species, Koekmakranka

Hendrik van Zijl of Van Zijl guesthouses on Nieuwoudtville Cape, an ideal stopover on your way to and from the Kgalagad took the pictures...Read More I posted here growing wild in South Africa on the Nieuwoudtville Cape, the bulb capital of the world.

Hendrik van Zijl says "Nieuwoudville Bulb Capital of the World. This bulb is Gethyllis Campanulata one of the many Amaryllidaceae that grow in our area. The photo of the bulb in leaf was taken in June(Winter). The leaves die back and flowers appear in early November(Summer) . The flowers last no more than 3 days. In early April (Autumn) of the following year the seed pods appear rapidly. The pods are highly scented and when walking in the veld the scent can be picked up at a distance. Children love to collect and eat the pods. All these photos are of the same clump of bulbs .Inevitably people collect the bulbs and try to grow them in pots. I believe that Gethyllis should always be left to grow in the veld. The fleshly seeds in the pods can be cleaned but these seeds are very difficult to cultivate. Leave the pods and bulbs in the veld where they belong. Hendrik van Zijl. http//www.nieuwoudtville.co.za "

On 11/22/2018 Hendrik van Zijl of Van Zijl added:
"NIEUWOUDTVILLE R.S.A. NIEUWOUDTVILLE BULB CAPITAL of the World.
I took these photos early this morning of Gethyllis campanulata (the common name of this specie is Bokkeveldkukumakranka} The reference to Bokkeveld is the Bokkeveld plato that surrounds Nieuwoudtville.
Gethyllis is a genus of the family Amaryllidaceae which is far better known by its common name Kukumakranka.This specie grows in large clumps producing many flowers and almost as many seed pods that appear in autumn.What has always intrigued me is that all pods come into flower at the same time with the flowers in full bloom lasting barely 48 hours.I have been observing these clumps for the last 20 plus years and they flower every year. What is it that makes each pod flower at the same time? Definitely not rain!
It is during this brief flowering phase that pollination takes place.I was fortunate this morning to capture a pollinator which appears to be a solitary bee.
It is always a thrill to capture the flowering of this amazing plant.
Hendrik v Zijl
http://www.nieuwoudtville.co.za"