| Author: | John
Gilbert Baker, 1875 |
| Family: |
VELLOZIACEAE |
| Origin: |
Botswana,
Eswatini, South Africa |
| Soil: |
Grit - Mix |
| Water:
|
Medium |
| Sun: |
Maximum |
| Thickness: |
20 Centimetres |
| Height: |
180 Centimetres |
| Flower:
|
White -
Mauve - Blue |
| Propagate: |
Seeds |
| Names:
|
Black-Stick Lily |
| Synonyms: |
Barbacenia retinervis, Burtt-Davy, 1912.
Vellozia clavata, John Gilbert Baker, 1896.
Xerophyta
clavata, John Gilbert Baker, 1875.
Xerophyta retinervis var. multiramosa, Behnke. |
This member of the Velloziaceae family was given this name by
John Gilbert Baker in 1875. It is found
in Botswana, South Africa and Eswatini, growing in a well drained soil
or even grit with
some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to 20
centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 180 centimetres in
height. The
flowers are from white over mauve to blue.
I found these plants all over a
steep mountain side in Swaziland (know called Eswatini), and they
reminded me of grasstrees from Australia. Further more, they seems
to be burned almost every summer. And then I found flowers on them,
and that did help on finding a name.
The generic name is from the
Greek xeros; 'arid', and phytos; 'plant' an allusion to its
being drought-tolerant, while the specific name is Latin for 'vein
network'. |
