Thursday 8 May 2014

DESKTOP 279 - RHODOHYPOXIS

Rhodohypoxis is a small genus of tuberous flowering plants in the family Hypoxidaceae, native to southern Africa. The small flowers, no more than 15 cm high, are constructed so that their centres are not visible. Some species are in cultivation and they are commonly seen in gardens in Australia.

Rhodohypoxis species grow from small tubers. They flower in the summer and die down in the winter. When in flower, they are typically 2–15 cm tall. The flowers are white, pink or red; the bases of the tepals bend inwards, so that the stamens and ovary are not visible. Rhodohypoxis species are found in the eastern part of southern Africa, particularly in the Drakensberg mountains in the province of Natal, South Africa and Lesotho. This is a region of summer rainfall with relatively dry winters.

R. baurii (shown here) is not uncommon in cultivation. It is not reliably frost hardy, so is often grown in pots, protected in the winter. Various colour forms are available under cultivar names, e.g. 'Ruth' (pure white), 'Allbrighton' (pink) and 'Douglas' (red). Some other species, such as R. milloides, and hybrids with Hypoxis species are also grown.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

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