Bowiea volubilis subsp. volubilis bulbs grown together

The initially globose bulb of a Bowiea volubilis subsp. volubilis plant may distort, spread or multiply with age. For this species old may mean about 70 years. The somewhat depressed bulb may have its outer scales turn green from light exposure when above ground and not covered in leaf detritus, as often happens. Some plants grow half the bulb underground, others have about all of it exposed.

In picture, several bulbs have grown from the initial one, forming a compact, united structure. Several separate green stems emerge from the top(s).

The numerous overlapping scales of a bulb give it an onion-like appearance. The scales start off like thickly fleshy tunics. The outer ones may wither to paper-thin skins, membranous and dry, brown or grey, similar to those of onions (Germishuizen and Clarke, 2003; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; https://llifle.com).