Wurmbea stricta

Wurmbea stricta grows in marshy areas in heavy clay soil, sometimes even spending much of winter inundated in seasonal pools or bogs where the clay tends to retain the rainwater.

Stricta refers to the three (more or less) straight leaves. After the spike of flowers has done blooming before the end of spring, the above-ground plant parts will gradually wither. It is summer deciduous, growing new leaves around the flowering stem on arrival of the next seasons winter rain.

About 15 of the 40 species of the Wurmbea genus grow in fynbos while several are adapted to the summer rainfall regions, although not this one. This photo was taken in Bainskloof during October (Manning, 2007; iSpot; www.plantzafrica.com).