Androcymbium is an Old World genus in the family Colchicaceae. The plants grow from bulb-like corms. The flowers are usually small and held inside bracts, which may be larger and more colorful than the flower petals. The flowers are bourne as an umbel on a short scape that is usually below ground. The leaves are often in a rosette such that they lay spread out on the ground.

Growing these in pots, I find that A. europaeum tends to flower at the ground surface but the others (below) raise their blooms on short scapes.

	Androcymbium europaeum is one of the few non-African members of this mainly South African genus. It has large white flowers about 2 inches across. They usually have pink or brown striations in the petals. In this species, the bracts are not prominent.
	Androcymbium pulchrum is native to the winter-rainfall region of South Africa. It is characterized by its reddish bracts surrounding the flowers.
	Androcymbium striatum (or melanthoides) is widespread in Southern Africa, occurring mainly in the summer rainfall areas. The bracts are white with green veins. We have a clone that survives the winter with its pot in a cold frame here in central Indiana (USA), USDA zone 5 (nominally).

  

Last updated 11 October 2001.
© Copyright 2001 by James E. Shields. All rights reserved.