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Hypoxis hemerocallidea Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Widespread in the summer rainfall region of South Africa, from coast to interior, extending nothwards into Botswana where populations become fewer
Habitat: It is found in marshy forest margins and grassland where its yellow star-like flowers herald the arrival of spring and summer rains. Altitude 50 - 1800 m.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Hypoxis hemerocallidea
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.Index Seminum [St.Petersburg (Petropolitanus)] 8: 64. 1841 [25 Jan 1842]Synonymy: 6
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Bantu Tulip, African Wild Potato, African Potato, Star Lily, Yellow Stars
AFRIKAANS (Afrikaans): Afrika-patat, Sterretjie
ZULU (isiZulu): Ilabatheka, Inkomfe
Description: It is a beautiful tuberous perennial plant about 10 to 50 cm tall.
Leaves: Straplike, up to 400 mm long, neatly arranged one above the other in 3 ranks, distinctly arching in the shape of a sickle, keeled, broad, with prominent ribs and tapering towards the tips and are hairy all over. The lower surface of the leaves is densely hairy with white hairs. Leaves appear above ground , sometimes borne on the stem in spring before the flowers.
Tuber: Dark brown, big fat, with not elongated and stem-like, vertical, it is covered with bristly hairs, and is bright yellow when freshly cut. It has an unpleasant bitter taste.
Roots: Fleshy.
Flowers: yellow star-shaped flowers. on 5 or 6 slender erect inflorescences, each carrying 5–13 bright yellow, star-shaped flowers with 6 tepals. Six free stamens arise from the base of the tepals with prominent anthers. The style is short and fat, carrying the robust stigma.
Blooming season: September to January The flowers are short-lived open in the mornings and close at midday. Flowers open sequentially from the base to the apex. Usually 1–3 flowers are open at the same time, thus encouraging cross-pollination.
Seeds: Hard, black, smooth and glossy.
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Hypoxis hemerocallidea Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Photo by: Valentino VallicelliSend a photo of this plant.The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present.
Read More... Cultivation and Propagation: Uses: It is probably the best known medicinal plant in South Africa used for centuries in African traditional medicine and the tuber is used in infusions and decoctions to treat a variety of ailments from headaches, mental disorders, arthritis, cancer and and recently recognized in the alternative medicine trade as a 'wonder cure' for its immune-boosting properties.
The leaves are used to make rope and the tuber is used as a dye to blacken floors.