Bulbine capitata Poelln.

Asphodelaceae, S. Kativu. Flora Zambesiaca 12:3. 2001

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb 20–45 cm tall from a woody rhizomatous base; plants small erect glabrous, several clustered on a vertical rhizome, or few to many closely spaced along an inclined rhizome.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizomes 1–5 × 0.6–1 cm, subcylindrical with spreading fibrous to ± fleshy roots.

Morphology Stem

Aerial stems absent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves numerous, erect to arching, fleshy grass-like, ± abruptly expanded and sheathing at the base; the bases broadly winged, successively overlapping bases of inner leaves, persisting as a column of shiny yellowishscarious sheaths; column (3)4–8 × 0.5–1 cm; blade ± fleshy, mostly 10–25 cm long and c. 2 mm in diameter, linear-terete, ± channelled on the adaxial surface and tapering to the apex; wings clasping, hyaline, up to 8 mm wide on each side of the blade base,abruptly narrowing into the blade.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle 1 per plant, erect, terete, ± fleshy becoming stoutly rigid, up to c. 25 cm long and 3 mm in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Raceme usually overtopping the leaves, densely many-flowered, at first 2–4 cm long and broadly conical, increasing to 12(15) cm long and 3–4 cm in diameter and becoming cylindrical; bracts membranous, 2.5–7(10) mm long, ovate to narrowly lanceolate and attenuate into a subulate apex, auriculate, entire or sometimes with 1–3 teeth on the margins, persistent; pedicels closely spaced, ± erect to ascending, filiform or slender, from c. 3 mm long at the raceme apex increasing to c. 23 mm long towards the base, with flowers youngest at the apex becoming progressively older towards the base, flowers and fruit often occurring together in the same raceme, straight, often ± strongly recurved at the apical end in barren pedicels, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal

Tepals yellow, up to c. 6 mm long, the inner c. 3.5 mm wide, the outer c. 2.5 mm wide, elliptical, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments c. 2–3 mm long, densely bearded in the upper part with long yellow hairs; anthers c. 1.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style c. 3 mm long, terete.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule not inflated when mature, stipitate, c. 6–7 mm long and 4–5 mm wide, ovoid to obovoid and slightly depressed at the apex, shallowly 3-lobed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1–2 per locule, 2–3 mm long, pyramidal, not winged, convex on the outer face with 2–3 flat inner faces tapering to the point of attachment, brownish-black, sometimes with a reticulate pattern of low sharp incipient ridges on the surface.