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Botanical name |
Scadoxus puniceus |
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Other names |
Paintbrush; giant stovebrush; rooikwas or seeroogblom (Afrikaans); umgola (Zulu), formerly Haemanthus magnificus |
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Family |
Amaryllidaceae |
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Dimensions |
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Description of stem |
Tube-based rosette of leaves emanating from the top of the bulb |
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Description of leaves |
Broad, densely packed, wavy and glossy green leaves enveloped at the lower end in a leaf sheath with characteristic purplish spots; the leaves normally appear after the flower |
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Description of flowers |
Large bracts surround the densely packed umbel of red flowers that display large numbers of prominent yellow anthers in each inflorescence surrounded by bracts and on a thick straight, purple spotted stem which may be over 50 cm long; flowering during August to November |
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Description of seed/fruit |
Red, spherical and fleshy berries |
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Description of roots |
Large underground bulb, measuring about 10 cm in diameter with numerous fleshy roots below |
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Variation |
Much variability in specimens across the distribution range in e.g. flower colour and leaf shape |
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Propagation and cultivation |
In the garden or a container, a shady position, much compost, water during summer, less in winter; grown from seed, but it takes about five years before it will flower |
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Tolerances |
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Uses |
Treating of coughs and gastro-intestinal complaints; a popular garden subject |
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Ecological rarity |
Not threatened |
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Pests and diseases |
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Other |
Puniceus = crimson, scarlet or purple; the bulb is poisonous; cultivated in |
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Location |
In bushy, shaded areas, forests and among coastal bushes |
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Distribution (SA provinces) |
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Country |
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(Info: www.plantzafrica.com)