Description
A desert species from the S.E. Mediterranean. It was first discovered in Egypt, near Cairo, in 1882 and described as a new species in 1901.
As an adaptation to its arid environment, this has evolved wonderfully decorative, incredibly spiralled foliage that sits in curly cones on the soil surface. The evolutionary design of these means that they can minimise water loss whilst maximising carbon dioxide exchange and photosynthesis. The foliage is made in spring but dies away totally as temperatures go up.
This is an autumnal flowering species and in October it makes up to six, 10cm long flowers from each bulb. These are superbly perfumed, in the evening. The white petals have an attractive, emerald green band along their length.
In cultivation, it is early days, but the plants do well when treated in the same way that we use for many of our South African arid-land bulbs such as Brunsvigia, grown in a very VERY well-drained compost with little in the way of humus matter. They are given little water but are fed at every opportunity watering offers to build size. There is more advice on arid-land bulbs in our members area, available in our customers area, after login.
