Ammocharis coranica leaves

Ammocharis coranica grows nine to fifteen strap-shaped leaves, spreading near the ground in two opposing fans, roughly forming an X. They are glaucous or blue-green, smooth or hairless and slightly curved to sickle-shaped and not strongly sheathed at the base. Tiny marginal teeth are present and the blunt tips are often withered.

Only first growth from the young bulb has pointed leaves. Leaf dimensions are 30 cm to 45 cm long, 1,5 cm to 4 cm wide.

The leaves appear after rain, sometimes rapidly as in a couple of weeks, followed by the inflorescence. The leaves may also develop at flowering; differences should be expected from a plant growing all over the country and region, in both summer and winter rainfall areas.

The photo was taken in the Little Karoo after rain (Duncan, et al, 2016; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2009; iNaturalist).