Crossyne [Boophane] guttata

Crossyne guttata flowers shortly after a bush fire on a hillslope near Cape Town.  This species is distinguished by the insignificant purplish-maroon flowers and pinkish pedicels.  In cultivation, Crossyne guttata is a shy flowerer.  A friend of mine had his bulb flowered only once after growing it for 27 years!

Dennis Tsang (March 31, 2006)

Dennis Tsang (May 2005)
Hong Kong

Dennis Tsang (April 16, 2005)
Hong Kong

Crossyne guttata

Synonyms: Crossyne guttata was previously known as Brunsvigia ciliaris, Boophane ciliaris or Boophane guttata.

Origin:  Crossyne guttata is native to the Western Cape, South Africa where it is a common and widespread species. Sporadic populations of this species have also been reported in south-western Cape.

Habitat:  Bulbs grow in flat land or on gentle slopes in loamy or sandy soil. However, I have also seen bulbs growing in hard clayey soil. The species enjoys full sun and grows during winter-time to be coincided with the rainy season in western Cape. In the wild, bulbs usually flower after a bush fire. This species is a favourite food for porcupines as bulbs are often dug out and consumed by these animals in the wild.

Distinguishing Features:  Crossyne guttata is characterized by its coarse and thick brown hairs aligning at the edge of its leaves. Individual flowers, which are relatively insignificant in size, are dark maroonish black in colour. ‘Guttata’ is a Latin word which means ‘spotted’ or ‘dappled’. However, I cannot relate such quality to any parts of the species.

Cultivation:  Crossyne guttata is a winter growing species. Bulbs must be grown in well-drained soil with the tip just below the soil surface so that is leaves would lie flat on the ground. Bulbs should receive as much sunlight as possible. In cultivation, bulbs are extremely shy to flower. Watering should be completely withheld during summer dormancy.