Bulbous and Tuberous Rooted Plants
A division of the Camden Park catalogues that is not clearly defined. Some of the more important families of the Hortus are included here, Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae and Liliaceae. It also contains a wide assortment of other plants with a modified stem or root that acts as a storage organ. Such plants are usually deciduous and have a distinct dormancy period. Shrubs and trees are not included, but there is some overlap with herbaceous plants.
Sparaxis fragrans (Jacq.) Ker-Gawl.
Cormous prennial, the flowers mostly 2-4 per spike, yellow to buff, usually mauve on the outside, highly scented. To 25cm. [CECB].
Sparaxis fragrans (Jacq.) Ker-Gawl. subsp. grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Goldbl.
Variable species with basal fans of lance-shaped leaves and spikes of up to 6, flattish, widely funnel-shaped, flowers in spring and summer. There are four ssp., grandiflora, with deep reddish-purple flowers; fimbriata with cream flowers; acutiloba with yellow flowers; and violacea with white flowers marked purple, shading to purple marked with white. To 45cm. [RHSE, CECB].
Sparaxis galeata Ker-Gawl.
Cormous perennial, leaves often prostrate, flowers 4-7 per spike, cream and yellow with mauve markings. To 35cm. [CECB, RHSD].
Sparaxis many varieties
Sparaxis or related species, unidentified. It is likely that these plants were collected in the wild in South Africa although many garden varieties were listed in nursery catalogues from early Victorian times.
Sparaxis species unidentified
An unidentified species of Sparaxis or a related genus. No description.
Sparaxis tricolor (Schneev.) Ker-Gawl.
Cormous perennial with basal fans of erect lance-shaped leaves and 1-5 stems of up to 6, flattish, widely funnel-shaped, usually orange, red or purple flowers, with a purple-black or dark red central mark, in spring and summer. A white form is also grown, with a yellow throat, edged with crimson-purple. To 40cm. [RHSE, CECB, Hortus].
Spiloxene capensis (L.) Garside
Half-hardy cormous perennial with erect, narrow, linear basal leaves and, in spring, solitary, upward-facing, white or yellow flowers, with bright purple or green basal spots. To 20cm. [RHSE, Hortus, CECB].
Sprekelia formosissima (L.) Herb.
Half-hardy bulbous perennial with strap-shaped leaves and solitary, bright scarlet to deep crimson lily-like flowers in spring. To 35 cm. A reliable plant in the open garden in most of Australia. [RHSE, Hortus, Baker Am.].
Stenomesson miniatum (Herb.) Ravenna
A bulbous perennial, a 40cm scape bears an umbel of up to 6 pendant, tubular, red or orange flowers in spring or summer, followed by the narrow strap-shaped leaves, to 40cm long. [RHSD, Baker Am.].
Sternbergia lutea (L.) Ker-Gawl. ex Spreng.
A bulbous perennial, the narrowly lance-shaped leaves are produced at the same time as the goblet-shaped, deep yellow flowers in autumn. Very free-flowering. To 15cm. [RHSE, Hortus, Baker Am.].
Streptocarpus rexii Lindl.
Frost-tender rhizomatous perennial with rosettes of strap-shaped leaves, to 30cm long, and cymes of up to 6 violet-tinged white, or violet flowers, to 4.5cm across, with violet lines on the lower lobes, from spring to autumn. To 25cm. [RHSE, Hortus, Don].
Thysanotus isantherus R.Br.
Frost-hardy, tuberous-rooted perennial with purple, fringed flowers.
Tigridia pavonia (L.f.) DC.
Bulbous perennial with a basal fan of lance-shaped leaves and a succession of iris-like, orange to pink, red, yellow or white flowers, mostly with contrasting central marks, borne on occasionally branched stems in summer. To 1.5m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Tigridia pavonia (L.f.) DC. var. conchiflora
For a basic description see Tigridia pavonia (L.f.) DC. The variety conchiflora has rich yellow flowers.
Tigridia pavonia (L.f.) DC. var. splendens
The flowers of Tigridia pavonia are very variable in colour. Splendens is undoubtedly a variety with distinctive flowers. There are references to a number of varieties in the modern literature including splendens, but I have found no specific description. The modern splendens may not be the same as the Victorian variety of that name.
