Namaqualand is an arid area in northwest South Africa. Although it is a winter rainfall area, rainfall is sparse and the plants found in this area are not included in some of the books illustrating South African bulbs since it is not considered to be part of the Cape Floral province. For most of the year the land appears to be a desert and because it has an average annual rainfall of 50-400 mm it could be classified as such. But in a year with adequate rainfall it becomes alive with an amazing floral display of annuals, bulbs, dwarf shrubs, and succulents. Flowering usually occurs in August and September, but dry winds which halt the display can end it sooner. In a year with little rainfall there are few flowers. Summers are hot and dry but there is occasional fog since the ocean is not that far away. Photos on this page taken in Namaqualand. More information about the plants seen on this page can by found on the wiki genus pages. Links are included to make it easier to go directly to these pages.
Albuca canadensis, syn. Albuca maxima is found on rocky slopes. Photos taken September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller.
Babiana curviscapa The first one photographed in August 2001 was growing in sand not too far from the road. The second was taken September 2006. Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner .
Babiana dregei Photos taken in Namaqualand by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Babiana torta Photos taken September 2006 in by Mary Sue Ittner of the distinctive leaves and of seedpods.
Bulbinella ciliolata Photo taken by Andrew Harvie of a plant growing on a farm in the Kamiesberg.
Bulbinella latifolia ssp. latifolia This picture was taken by Mary Sue Ittner on a rainy day in a wet year (August 2001) in Namaqua National Park where it was growing in a very wet place. Other flowers were closed because of the weather, so it really stood out.
Cyanella hyacinthoides The first three photos below photographed by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner were taken September 2006.
Cyanella orchidiformis The photos below were taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Eucomis regia photographed September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller.
Ferraria macrochlamys , syn. Ferraria uncinata ssp. macrochlamys Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner in Namaqua National Park September 2006.
Gethyllis britteniana leaves photographed by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Gladiolus arcuatus photographed September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner
Gladiolus equitans was photographed in Namaqua National Park in August 2001 just after a rain by Mary Sue Ittner and in September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller in seed.
Gladiolus orchidiflorus was photographed by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller September 2006.
Gladiolus saccatus Growing alongside the road and photographed August 2001 by Mary Sue Ittner
Gladiolus scullyi Photos taken September 2006 in Namaqualand by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner
Haemanthus crispus photo taken of the leaves by Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Hesperantha bachmannii The photos below were taken September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.
Hesperantha latifolia Photos taken September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner. The last one also features Romulea citrina.
Lachenalia carnosa Pictures below from Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner show this species growing in the rocks in Namaqualand September 2006.
Lachenalia hirta Photos taken September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner
Lachenalia violacea Photos taken September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner.
Lapeirousia arenicola is found in deep red sand. Photos taken September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner.
Lapeirousia fabricii is found on stony sandstone and granitic slopes. Photos taken September 2006 by Mary Sue Ittner.
Lapeirousia silenoides The first picture was taken in August 2001 by Mary Sue Ittner. The others were taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller in 2006 where there were patches of bright pink from this plant and also Pelargonium incrassatum which is the very same color.
Massonia bifolia syn. Whiteheadia bifolia Photographed by Diane Whitehead, Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller in early September 2006.
Moraea bolusii Photos taken by Andrew Harvie northeast of Springbok.
Moraea fugax ssp. filicaulis Photographed September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Moraea fugax ssp. fugax Photographed September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Moraea miniata information found on a wiki Homeria page. Photos from Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner of plants with white flowers blooming September 2006.
Moraea nana information found on the wiki Hexaglottis page. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner of some particularly attractive specimens seen September 2006.
Moraea schlechteri information found on a wiki Homeria page. Photos taken September 2007 by Mary Sue Ittner.
Ornithogalum maculatum These first photos were taken September 2006 in Namaqua National Park by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner. Flowers seen in the morning mist were not yet open, but later in the day they were.
Ornithogalum multifolium These pictures were taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner of a group seen in the middle of the day and illustrate the habitat as well as the flowers.
Ornithogalum pruinosum These photos by Bob Rutemoeller were taken in such a spot near Kamieskroon September 2006.
Ornithogalum xanthochlorum Photographs taken alongside the main road September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Oxalis comosa Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Oxalis dregei Photo was taken by Bob Rutemoeller September 2006.
Oxalis namaquana The first photo shows a mass blooming in a wet spot in a wet year (August 2001). The next two photos were taken September 2006. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.
Oxalis obtusa Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Oxalis sonderiana This photo was taken near Springbok by Christiaan van Schalkwyk.
Pelargonium barklyi Photographed September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner. The leaves were protected below a shrub. And the flowers twined through the leaves and branches of the shrub.
Pelargonium incrassatum Photos taken in September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller.
Pelargonium triste These pictures taken by Mary Sue Ittner are of plants seen August 2001.
Romulea citrina habitat photos from Rod Saunders and Mary Sue Ittner. The last two taken in September 2006 show it growing in some wet spots.
Romulea kamisensis Photos taken on two different trips (2001, 2006) by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.
Romulea namaquensis photographed by Mary Sue Ittner in Namaqualand in 2001 growing with Lapeirousia silenoides.
Spiloxene ovata Photo was taken by Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Spiloxene scullyi Photos taken September 2006 by Bob Rutemoeller.
Trachyandra falcata Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
Tulbaghia dregeana Photos were taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner in September 2006.
Watsonia meriana Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner September 2006.
