Androcymbium is a genus in the Colchicaceae family found in Africa and the Mediterranean. The common names for species in the genus are cup-and-saucer and men-in-a-boat. There are about 40 species and 13 of them are in the Cape Floral province. Recent taxonomic changes by Manning, Forest & Vinnersten (2007) suggest that Androcymbium be included in Colchicum. However, inclusion of Androcymbium into the already large genus Colchicum is made for "practical" reasons. The author state that there were no morphological characters that separated certain groups of Androcymbium found by molecular evidence. We await a full revision of the genus Androcymbium and until such a revision occurs, we will keep the genus Androcymbium separated from Colchicum based on their morphological classification.
Androcymbium burchellii is found on stony clay flats in the western Karoo, Bokkeveld Mountains to the Little Karro. It is a prostrate plant with ovate white to green bracts that flowers July to September. The first one was photographed on the road to Middlepos August 2001 by Mary Sue Ittner and the next two in the Roggeveld September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Androcymbium ciliolatum is found throughout Namaqualand in sandy, often moist places, southwards to Piketberg.
The 2 lanceolate basal leaves, up to 15 cm. long, have a minutely fringed margin and are at ground level.
The clusters of many white flowers is surrounded by pale green, almost white bracts. Photos by Bill Dijk
Androcymbium latifolium syn. Androcymbium pulchrum has 2 lance shaped leaves and flowers enclosed in large reddish bracts. The first photograph below was taken by Mary Sue Ittner August 2001 in the Nieuwoudtville Reserve where it was growing in heavy red doleritic clay and the second photo was
taken by Bob Rutemoeller near Middelpos in the Roggeveld September 2006.
These photos by Mary Sue Ittner show plants grown from seed and blooming in Northern California for the first time in December 2003. There are three views, one of the plants in a pot, one looking down on the flowers, and the third a close-up showing the bracts and the stamens. It most closely resembles Androcymbium latifolium in the key in Manning, Goldblatt, and Snijman, 2002 listed in References but Julian Slade thinks it may be a hybrid with it and another species. A final photo taken when dormant shows the corms.
Androcymbium sp. Rogan Roth would love to know what this attractive Androcymbium species is called. These are plants grown from seed ex. Silverhill Seeds and are easy to grow, proliferating rapidly.
