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Ornithoglossum undulatum, also known as the Karoo Slangkop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. It is found in Southern Namibia and South Africa. In South Africa its range extends as far east as Somerset East in Eastern Cape Province. O. undulatum is a poisonous plant, and consumption of the leaves can kill livestock.
It is also known as the poison onion, cockatoo snakelily, or wave-leaved bird's tongue. The Afrikaans moniker of slangkop means "snake's head," referring to the resemblance of their flowers to a snake's head.
Ornithoglossum undulatum grows well in well drained soil with moderate or little watering required. The plant favors heavy sunlight, owing to its desert habitat.
Ornithoglossum undulatum is found within the provinces of Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape in South Africa. In Namibia it is found throughout the ǁKaras Region, concentrated in the Richtersveld and Namaqualand regions.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ornithoglossum undulatum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
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.
