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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Apodolirion macowanii

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales > Family: Amaryllidaceae > Genus: Apodolirion

Distribution and habitat

Recorded from the Eastern Cape, South Africa, where it grows on sandy flats (Manning et al. 2002). 

Life cycle

  • The bulb is about 25 mm in diameter. The ovary is below ground, which is thought to give it protection in the summer heat (Manning et al. 2002).
  • Flowers from December to April (Manning et al. 2002).
  • Pollinator(s) unknown?
  • Two to four leaves are produced and unlike some other Apodolirion species, they can still be green at the time of flowering (Manning et al. 2002).
  • Fruit is a succulent orange-yellow-coloured berry (Manning et al. 2002). The manner in which the fruit is dispersed is unknown?

Publications

  • Manning J., Goldblatt P. and Snijman D. 2002. The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs. Timber Press, Portland.

Text by Hamish Robertson