Haemanthus pubescens subsp. pubescens

Haemanthus pubescens subsp. pubescens is a deciduous, winter-growing and summer dormant, bulbous perennial reaching heights from 5 cm to 30 cm.

The deep-seated, ovoid bulb is from 4 cm to 8 cm in diameter, consisting of yellowish white scales. A cluster of fleshy roots emerge from the bulb base. The subspecies is characterised by forming offsets prolifically.

The two narrowly tongue-shaped leaves are prostrate, angled up or recurved. They appear later than the flowers, darker green and hairier above than below. Leaf hairiness or pubescence gave the species and subspecies their name. The margins are variably hair-fringed. Leaf dimensions are 10 cm to 20 cm long and 1 cm to 5 cm wide.

The subspecies has the most southerly distribution of the three H. pubescens subspecies, occurring in the Western Cape from the Cape Peninsula to Graafwater. The photo was taken near Piketberg.

The habitat is deep sandy flats and dunes among low scrub in full sun, where the plants often form colonies. The subspecies is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Duncan, et al, 2016; Manning, 2007; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).