Prototulbaghia is a genus of the former family Alliaceae (now included in Amaryllidaceae). It is monotypic and represented by the species Prototulbaghia siebertii only found in the Leolo Mountains in Sekhukhuneland, South Africa.
The following excerpt about Prototulbaghia siebertii is written by Terry Smale (The Southern African Bulb Group: Newsletter No. 10, April 2008).
"The winter-dormant bulbs each produce 3-6 leaves that are up to 15 cm long and 1.5 mm wide. When they first emerge in spring, the leaves are in coils, but they then unfurl to just leave a hook at each tip. The plants grow in loose soil and if a finger is passed through a clump, the hooks catch and plants are pulled out of the soil. This might represent a method of vegetative distribution via small animals or birds. The flowers only last one day, but can be produced in succession right through the summer. Flower stalks are about as long as the leaves with 2-4 flowers on each. They are upwards-facing, widely bell-shaped, with petals about 4.5 mm long. Flowers are white or pink-tinged when they first open in the morning and change to deep pink or magenta by the afternoon. The species might have a degree of self-fertility which would make distribution in cultivation relatively easy. I have the impression that it would make a useful miniature pot plant that might flower over a long season in the summer." Photos by Alessandro Marinello.
The photos below were taken by Hans Joschko of plants in cultivation.
