Androcymbium ciliolatum Seeds Bulbous Flowering Plants From South Africa

Family : Colchicaceae
Common names: cup and a saucer, men-in-a-boat ( Eng. ); bobbejaanskoen (Afr.)

Androcymbium ciliolatum is a stemless geophyte up to 0.1 m tall, leaves ovate-lanceolate, 55¿145 x 14¿47 mm, lying on the ground, the margin of the leaves are ciliolate, bracts pale green to white covering white flowers, tepal blade concave at the base and shorter than the tepal claw, stamens longer than the tepals. Flowering time: June¿August. Plants are found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape : Namqualand on Atlantic coast, Piketberg, Clanwilliam at 120¿1200 m altitudes.

Members of the genus Androcymbium are low, short-stemmed to stemless perennials with leaves spreading on the ground. The most noticeable characteristics are the colourful bracts, which are upright, forming a cup that embraces the flowers.

Description
The name is derived from the Greek words, aner, man, and kumbion, cup. Species of the genus Androcymbium are short-stemmed or stemless reaching a the height of 150 mm. All species have an ovoid corm (a corm unlike a bulb, is a stem that is swollen and modified for storage, flattened on top and slightly concave on the bottom: when upon being cut, the corm appears solid). It has a fan-like, basal fold, and is covered with dark leathery to woody tunics.

Economic and cultural value
The bulb of Androcymbium has been found to be toxic, yet it has been used medicinally by the Southern Sothos as ointment for the sore ears. The plant is believed to be a charm to stop the enemy in wars.