Page 24 - Landscape SA 100

ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE

Ammocharis coranica is a deciduous bulbous species
with broadly strapped leaves, largely curved or flattened
on the ground. Amongst other names, they are known
commonly because of their beauty, as the ‘Grace of
the Sand’, the Ground Lily or the Koranna Lily of the
Koranna Bushman Tribe. They are usually found growing
in communities. Seeds and bulbs are available at
commercial nurseries that grow indigenous plants. The
scented flowers bloom in a cluster in summer with the
tepals curled back, while the stamens are extended. The
colour of the flower darkens to crimson as it ages. The
whitish-pink bud opens rapidly, turning to a pale pink
which is moth pollinated. The umbel does not develop
into a tumbleweed and hence the plants germinate
close to one another.

A sensational blooming of Chlorophytum bowkeri with
their star-like flowers of pure white petals and prominent
yellow anthers comes to life en masse in summer near
a rocky embankment. Every year since the invasive
Gymnosporia polyacantha ...dense bush encroachment
of the Kraal Spike Thorn... was cleared from a damp,
shady, rocky area of robust acacias (Vachellia robusta),
commonly known as Enkeldoring or Splendid Acacia,
the flowering has occurred. The removal was done with
Tree Poppers and other implements, and with a great
deal of difficulty allowing enough light and air to enable
the germination and flowering of a vast seedbank of
Giant Chlorophytum or Grootboskuikens.

Crinum graminicola means ‘dwelling in the grass’. It is
commonly called the Grass Crinum or Graslelie. There
are a number of magnificent specimens which flower
periodically in October, mainly in the short grass of
the north facing sunny slopes of the koppies. The bulb
is huge and hardy, producing strap-like leaves and
pendulous, trumpet-like, striped flowers in various
shades from very pale pink to deep pink. It can flower
any time from October to January. The populations
which were abundant are now threatened by habitat
destruction and the muthi trade, but the plants are
available from commercial indigenous nurseries. It grows
naturally in the sandy soil of grassland, and although it is
widespread, it is localised rather than rare. It was prolific
in Gauteng, prior to damage to the colonies.

22 Landscape SA • Issue 100 2021