Plant Families with Succulent Species

Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllis Family

The Amaryllidaceae ia a family of about 870 species in around 50 genera of bulbous or rhizomatous (Clivia, Cryptostephanus and Scadoxus) perennial herbs, with alternate strap-shaped leaves which may be semi-succulent. Species are found throughout the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world including Australia (3 genera), Mediterranean (8 genera) South America (28 genera), South Africa (18 genera). In Southern Africa, the bulbs often sit on the surface rather than below it, but species that grow with sub-surface bulbs maintain them at a proper depth with their contractile roots.

Many species are cultivated for their decorative umbels of attractive bisexual flowers, which in some cases are produced before the leaves. Flowers have six segments and vary from star-shaped to tubular or trumpet-shaped. Many are heavily scented. Seeds have a characteristic black or blue crust of the pigment phytomelanin and are contained in berries or loculicidal capsules. Many species are poisonous.

Cultivation: The soil should be free-draining, but with more organic material than with other succulents. Species whose bulbs grow on the surface should be placed on a layer of sand or grit to protect them from moisture in the soil.

As with other succulents, there are both summer and winter growers, and watering regimes should respect periods of dormancy. When leaves are present, regular applications of high nitrogen or balanced fertilser helps to plump up the bulbs. Many members of the Amaryllidaceae are poisonous.

Boophane (Oxbane) (W. Herbert 1821)

is a small genus including five species of large bulbs from which arises a short stem with a dense head of many flowers. The fans of grey-green strap-like leaves are usually produced after flowering. The large seed heads break off at the top of the flower stem and driven by the wind, roll across the landscape distributing the seeds.

Different species of Boophane are widely distributed across South Africa to Kenya and Uganda. They are drought tolerant but not cold-hardy. These plants are very poisonous to livestock, hence the genus name (Greek: bous = ox + phonos = murder) and the common name. They have been used as ingredients in traditional arrow poisons, medicinal dressings for skin lesions and to induce visions. Numerous spellings of this genus have crept into the literature but Boophane has been conserved.

Left: Boophane haemanthiodes
a widespread plant of the Western Cape and Namaqualand. Bulbs grow on the surface among rocks. Heads of a hundred fragrant, cream flowers turning pink with age, are produced from November to February.

Seen here near Nieuwoudville, Dec. 1998.

Haemanthus (Linnaeus 1753)

includes 22 species of bulbs from South Africa and Namibia, usually growing at or just below the soil surface. They large strap-like fleshy leaves which are pubescent or hairy in some species. Flowers have prominent stamen filaments giving the inflorescence of some species the appearance a shaving brush. After flowering, soft, pulpy berries are produced, each containing a few sticky seeds.

Most species (15) are native to the winter rainfall region of the Western Cape and Namaqualand with the rest from summer rainfall areas. Haemanthus albiflos is distributed through both climates in its range of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Provinces, reflected in its tolerance of cultural conditions.

Haemanthus bulbs should be planted in very free-draining compost and are tolerant of poor soil. Winter rainfall species generally prefer to be buried and should kept dry during the summer. Summer rainfall species appreciate a little water even when dormant. Evergreen species such as H. albiflos should be planted with their bulbs partly exposed and watered throughout the year.

The genus Haemanthus has been combined with Scadoxus in the past but is now considered separate. The popular greenhouse bulb Scadoxus multiflorus is sometimes labelled as H. multiflorus.

Haemanthus humilis ssp. hirsutus The leaves, especially leaf margins and the flower stem of this rare form are pubescent. This is a late-Summer-growing plant.

H. humilis ssp. humilis has pink to white flowers.