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Hessea breviflora

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Photo from Casabio.org.


Photo by Alan Horstmann, Naturalista.mx.


The normal two leaves by Alan Horstmann, Naturalista.mx.


The dark flowers from Casabio.org.


Drawing by Leigh Voigt.

Author: 

William Herbert, 1837

Family: 

AMARYLLIDACEAE

Origin: 

Western South Africa

Soil: 

Sand

Water: 

Medium

Sun: 

Maximum

Thickness: 

5 Centimetres

Height: 

20 Centimetres

Flower: 

Pale - Deep Pink

Propagate: 

Seeds/Bulbs

Names: 

Umbrella Lilies

Synonyms: 

Hessea dregeana Kunth, 1850.
Hessea bachmanniana Schinz, 1896.
Hessea brachyscypha Baker, 1896.
Hessea longituba D&U.M.-Doblies,1985.
Hessea zeyheri, Baker, 1888.
Periphanes brachyscypha, F.Leight.1948.
Periphanes dregeana, F.M.Leight. 1948.
Periphanes zeyher, F.M.Leight. 1948.

This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by William Herbert in 1837. It is found in western South Africa, growing in a sandy soil with some water and lots of sun. The bulb can grow to five centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 20 centimetres in height. The flowers are from pale to deep pink.

It seems  like Leighton proposal for a new genera; Periphanes didn't catch on.

The name Hessea commemorates Christian Heinrich Friedrich Hesse, 1772–1837, a Lutheran minister who came to Cape Town from Hanover and grew succulents in his garden. The species name from Latin; brevis; 'short' and flora; 'flower'.

This is a winter-grower.


Drawing by Barbara Jeppe.


Pale flowers by Alan Horstmann, Naturalista.mx.


Habitat by Alan Horstmann, Naturalista.mx.