Albuca polyphylla

Albuca polyphylla Baker (syn. Ornithogalum teretifolium Manning & Goldblatt) is native to the Eastern Cape and the eastern part of the Western Cape. According to Elsa Pooley in her book Mountain Flowers, this species is found in crevices of rock sheets and gravel and silt patches on rock sheets, in seasonally waterlogged areas in the Drakensberg Mountains. Flowers resemble Albuca humilis. See the full description of this species when it was published. The widely grown Albuca 'Augrabies Hills' probably belongs to this species.

The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen of a form from Willowmore, South Africa. Photos 4-6 show seedpods that resulted from crossing with Albuca 'Augrabies Hills'. Neither of these forms seem to be self fertile.

Albuca polyphylla, Willowmore, Nhu NguyenAlbuca polyphylla, Willowmore, Nhu NguyenAlbuca polyphylla, Willowmore, Nhu NguyenAlbuca polyphylla, Willowmore, Nhu NguyenAlbuca polyphylla, Willowmore, Nhu NguyenAlbuca polyphylla, Willowmore, Nhu Nguyen

The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen showing a comparison between Albuca 'Augrabies Hills' (left) to the Willowmore form (right). The only noticeable differences between these two forms are the sizes of the flowers. The Willowmore form is larger. Reciprocal crosses between these two forms have been successful.

Albuca 'Augrabies Hills' (left) & Willowmore form (right), Nhu NguyenAlbuca 'Augrabies Hills' (left) & Willowmore form (right), Nhu NguyenAlbuca 'Augrabies Hills' (left) & Willowmore form (right), Nhu NguyenAlbuca 'Augrabies Hills' (left) & Willowmore form (right), Nhu Nguyen

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Page last modified on August 16, 2015, at 07:10 AM
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