Crinum graminicola

Crinum graminicola is a bulbous perennial reaching 40 cm when in flower. The bulb is globular, up to 16 cm in diameter. It is covered in multiple layers of a cartilaginous tunic that form a noticeable neck at the top.

At the base of many bulb species is a plate-like structure from which the roots grow, whilst modified leaves are tightly stacked above it to form the bulb, like scales or broad membranes that surround the centre. Sometimes a bulb has a hard tunic or outer cover of sturdy fibres (as do the crinums) that protect the softer inner food storage parts. Bulbous plants store nutrients for periods of dormancy and hardship when nutrients cannot be produced, but lived on from own reserves.

The plant produces four to eight broad, strap-shaped leaves in a spreading, basal rosette. The leaves are channelled, bright to dark green in colour. Leaf dimensions are 40 cm to 80 cm long and 8 cm to 15 cm wide.

The South African distribution of the species is in the provinces north of the Vaal River and KwaZulu-Natal. This plant was photographed during January in the Rhenosterspruit Conservancy near Johannesburg.

The habitat is summer rainfall grassland. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Duncan, et al, 2016; iNaturalist; iSpot; http://redlist.sanbi.org).