Bonatea is a tuberous genus from the Orchidaceae family found in mainland Africa, with one species in Yemen. They grow in a range of dry habitats. The green or yellow and white flowers are on an unbranched leafy stem. Leaves are often withered by the time the flowers open.
Bonatea speciosa (L.f.) Willd. is a species that is found in coastal scrub and forest margins from the western Cape, South Africa to Zimbabwe. Growing to 1 m, it flowers from June-February. It has many oval to oblong clasping shiny green leaves and a dense many flowered inflorescence of green and white flowers. It is best grown in well-drained sandy mediums with organic matter in a shady location protected from the cold. The first photo was taken by Doug Westfall. The next two photos were taken in the bulb room at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden by Mary Sue Ittner. In the first the flowers are behind an amaryllid leaf. The last photo from the book Plants of the Klein Karoo courtesy of Jan and Anne Lise Schutte-Vlok.
