Lachenalia bulbifera

Simplified description

“Lachenalia bulbifera is a deciduous, winter-growing geophyte up to 0.3 m high. The subterranean storage organ is a shallow or deep-seated, fleshy, flattened bulb surrounded by membranous outer tunics. It produces one or two narrowly or broadly egg-shaped, fleshy, suberect leaves that may be plain green or heavily spotted or blotched with dark brown or purple on the upper surface.” http://pza.sanbi.org/lachenalia-bulbifera”

In New Zealand, wild plants have unspotted (plain green) leaves. The leaves emerge in April-May and flowers appear June-July, with a few in August or even September. Once established in light soils (sand or fine gravels), this species can form large dense patches, to 5 m diameter or more, and can be very difficult to eradicate. It also persists in loose stone walls and crib walls.