Geissorhiza leipoldtii

Geissorhiza leipoldtii, one of the satinflowers, is a cormous perennial reaching heights from 12 cm to 30 cm. A few sword-shaped leaves with ciliate margins are grown, shorter than inflorescence.

The species distribution is in a limited northwesterly part of the Western Cape, from Clanwilliam through the Pakhuis Mountains, the Biedouw Valley and southwards to Citrusdal. The photo was taken in the Biedouw Valley.

The habitat is south-facing fynbos slopes and flats of the Cederberg Wilderness Area in shale soils. The species is considered to be rare early in the twenty first century, due to the range restriction, the plant population stable (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).