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Massonia depressa
Also called Hedgehog Lily
Massonia depressa is a small South African bulbous perennial with two flat leaves lying on the ground and a spiky cluster of white, yellow or brown flowers in winter. It needs bright light, a dry rest period, and very well-drained soil.
Massonia depressa, the hedgehog lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is a bulbous geophyte native to the Cape Provinces and Free State of South Africa. Growing to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) broad, it is a bulbous perennial with two opposite leaves lying flat on the ground. A spiky cluster of white, yellow or brown flowers appears at the centre of the plant in winter. The flowers are uniquely scented like yeast, to attract pollination by gerbils and other rodents. The anther is exceptionally long - up to 2mm. The seed capsules are inflated, enabling them to be wind-borne.
This species has been observed to be variable in the wild, and numerous attempts have been made to resolve its true relationships within the genus Massonia, so far without success.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Massonia depressa by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
