Gethyllis namaquensis

Gethyllis namaquensis, the Namaqualand kukumakranka, is a deciduous, bulbous perennial of the Amaryllidaceae family. Dense clumps of up to eight plants may be formed.

The numerous nearly erect, succulent leaves are dry or gone by bloomtime. Leaf dimensions are up to 20 cm long and 1 cm wide at the base.

The six white to lilac tepals are fleshy and pink on the outside. The flowers are large, up to 8 cm across. Numerous stamens end in yellow anthers, their filaments short.

Next to the developing leaves the fruit grows from the ground following winter rains. The pollination that made it possible happened long ago, during last summers flowering.

The fruit called kukumakranka, still bearing its Khoi or San name, is sometimes eaten and was used in the past to flavour brandy. Making this liqueur from veld plants is considered threatening to the future of Gethyllis in nature.

The species distribution is in the far northwest of the Northern Cape, widespread in parts of the Richtersveld, from east of Port Nolloth to Helskloof. The photo was taken near the Gariep River.

The habitat is coastal dunes and gravelly slopes in succulent Karoo and semidesert shrubland. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century. Although the fruits are harvested for food and medicine, plants are collected for horticultural purposes and overgrazing continues, the species population is still stable (Williamson, 2010; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).