Melasphaerula ramosa
Family: Iridaceae
Common names: fairy bells, baardmannetjie, bokbaardjie, feeklokkie.
It is a cormous geophyte 350–600 mm tall but can grow up to 1 m. The soft, erect, sword-shaped leaves appear before the flowers. Many small, delicate, star-like, cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers are sparsely arranged in a lax, branched spike on slender, wiry stems.
Sowing instructions: Seed is sown in autumn, thinly, in deep (min. 10 cm) seed trays, to allow for root development. The soil medium should be well drained, a recommended mix being 2 parts sand : 2 parts compost : 1 part loam or equal parts sand and compost, and the seeds should be planted 3-4 mm deep, covered with clean sand and kept moist and lightly shaded.
Locality: Piketberg. Harvest: November 2024