Haemanthus coccineus
Encyclopedia
Haemanthus coccineus, the Blood flower or Paintbrush lily, is a bulbous geophyte in the genus Haemanthus
, native to Southern Africa
.
The generic name Haemanthus is derived from the Greek word haima for blood, and anthos for flower, and Coccineus is the Latin word for red or scarlet. In Africans language]] it is known as Bergajuin, Bloedblom, and many other vernacular names.
, to South Africa
in the Cape Peninsula
, to the Keiskamma River in the Eastern Cape
. It is found in Renosterveld
and Fynbos
habitat
s.
It is an adaptable species, growing in a wide range of soils derived from sandstones, quartzites, granites, shales and limestones. It will survive annual rainfall ranging from 100–1100 mm (3.9–43.3 in). The plant adapts to a wide range of altitudes, being found from coastal dunes to 1200 metres (3,937 ft) high mountains.
It can be a 'gregarious species' found in clumps of hundreds, from the under the shelter of other shrub
s on flat land, to in shady ravines and rock crevices.
The brilliant flowerheads account for its early appearance in Europe, being described by Carolus Linnaeus
in 1762. Together with Haemanthus sanguineus
(Jacq.), this was the first Haemanthus to be introduced to European horticulture as an ornamental plant
.
Despite Linnaeus' description, this same species was described under a host of different names (see gallery captions), which reflects more on taxonomic disorganisation than species variability. The plant figured on the left, was first described as Haemanthus hyalocarpus by Jacquin in 1804, and those in the gallery below, which are all H. coccineus, were first described under the caption names.
Haemanthus
Haemanthus is a Southern African genus of Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, with some 22 known species, endemic to South Africa, Namibia and the kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland...
, native to Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
.
The generic name Haemanthus is derived from the Greek word haima for blood, and anthos for flower, and Coccineus is the Latin word for red or scarlet. In Africans language]] it is known as Bergajuin, Bloedblom, and many other vernacular names.
Distribution
Haemanthus coccineus is widespread throughout the winter rainfall region in Southern Africa - from the southern parts of NamibiaNamibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the Cape Peninsula
Cape Peninsula
The Cape Peninsula is a generally rocky peninsula that juts out for 75 km into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope...
, to the Keiskamma River in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
. It is found in Renosterveld
Renosterveld
Renosterveld is a term used for one of the major plant communities and vegetation types of the Cape Floristic Region which is located in southwestern and southeastern South Africa, in southernmost Africa...
and Fynbos
Fynbos
Fynbos is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate...
habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s.
It is an adaptable species, growing in a wide range of soils derived from sandstones, quartzites, granites, shales and limestones. It will survive annual rainfall ranging from 100–1100 mm (3.9–43.3 in). The plant adapts to a wide range of altitudes, being found from coastal dunes to 1200 metres (3,937 ft) high mountains.
It can be a 'gregarious species' found in clumps of hundreds, from the under the shelter of other shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s on flat land, to in shady ravines and rock crevices.
Description
The flowerheads of Haemanthus coccineus emerge between February and April, with scarlet spathe valves on them like bright shaving brushes, make it a striking plant. The flowers are soon followed by translucent, fleshy berries. There are usually two large leaves per bulb, and occasionally three, which appear after flowering.The brilliant flowerheads account for its early appearance in Europe, being described by Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
in 1762. Together with Haemanthus sanguineus
Haemanthus sanguineus
Haemanthus sanguineus is a South African bulbous geophyte in the genus Haemanthus that occurs in the fynbos vegetation of the Western Cape....
(Jacq.), this was the first Haemanthus to be introduced to European horticulture as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
.
Despite Linnaeus' description, this same species was described under a host of different names (see gallery captions), which reflects more on taxonomic disorganisation than species variability. The plant figured on the left, was first described as Haemanthus hyalocarpus by Jacquin in 1804, and those in the gallery below, which are all H. coccineus, were first described under the caption names.