Its magnificent flowers are pink, scent like narcissus and stand up to 80 cm high. It grows on lower slopes and blooms from February to April, hence the other name March Lily or in afrikaans Maartlelie. The long leaves appear only later, some time in May.
Another Amaryllid to look out for this time of year is Brunsvigia orientalis. Aptly called Candelabra Flower or Koningskandelaar, it has a ball-shaped flower head, with small red flowers on long red pedicels. The ball grows up to about half a meter across and breaks away once seeds ripen. Find it tumble in the wind, on sandy places near the sea.
The red, fleshy and stout Haemanthus sanguineus (=H. rotundifolius) also flowers in February and March. This April Fool or Veldskoenblaar shows tightly packed pink flowers in a dense head surrounded by red leathery bracts. Look out for it on hills and lower slopes, especially after fire.
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| Amaryllis belladona, Amaryllidaceae, flowering at Lion's Head © Callan Cohen www.birdingafrica.com |
