Veltheimia capensis inflorescence

The inflorescence of Veltheimia capensis is borne on an erect scape. It comprises a dense raceme of dusky, reddish pink, sometimes speckled flowers.

The short, erect perianths at the top of the inflorescence are green-tipped. The open flowers nod lower down, the perianth lobes slightly recurving at their pointed tips. The scape becomes 40 cm tall, the perianths about 3 cm long. Flowering happens from mid-autumn to midwinter.

The plants in picture grow under spekboom on the Minwater farm near Oudtshoorn. The upper part of one bulb with papery outer surface protrudes above-ground (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; www.pacificbulbsociety.net).