Bulbine narcissifolia flowerhead

The yellow flowers of Bulbine narcissifolia grow on tall (50 cm), erect stalks. Individual flowers are star-shaped, initially covered by membranous bracts. The stamens are bearded, a feature of the Bulbine genus.

The flowers in the raceme start opening from below, a characteristic shared at least with flowers of the Asphodelaceae family to which it belongs. The open flower section divides the raceme into three different looking parts, unless it is at one of the extremes, either at the beginning of flowering or at the end. Several of these compact inflorescences may be produced by a thriving clump of rhizomes in one season. 

This plant may have two flowering seasons per annum: It flowers in spring and again in autumn, possibly resting during the hottest parts of summer and in winter. This split blooming season probably does not occur in all parts of the wide distribution range (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).