Ornithogalum dubium

Ornithogalum dubium, the yellow chincherinchee is a variable bulbous geophyte growing annual above-ground parts to heights from 10 cm to 50 cm. The specific name dubium, meaning dubious in Latin, signifies deviation in appearance from the other members of the genus.

The spreading or erect leaf rosette comprises oblong leaves with ciliate or hair-fringed margins. The leaves appear before the flower stems and may have withered before the flowers are open, which happens from late spring to early summer.

The species distribution is widespread in the Western Cape, slightly into the southwest of the Northern Cape and in the west of the Eastern Cape.

The habitat is diverse, including rocky lower slopes and flats in clayey or sandy soils. The plants grow in fynbos, grassland, succulent Karoo, Albany thicket and coastal scrub. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century.

The yellow chincherinchee may be abundant after rain or fire, sometimes presenting problems to farmers, as the species is toxic to livestock (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bean and Johns, 2005; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).