Botanical name
Watsonia schlechteriFamily
IridaceaeCommon Name
Solitary WatsoniaDescription
Cormous geophyte up to 90cm tall. Plants occur as solitary plants scattered on mountain slopes. Leaves sword-shaped with strongly thickened margins, 6-10mm wide. Unbranched flowering stem bears numerous 60-70mm long scarlet to orange flowers arising out of 25mm long bracts which do not clasp the stem.
After: Friedrich R R Schlechter (1872-1925), German botanist, traveller and plant collector in S. Africa, assistant to Harry Bolus at the Bolus Herbarium in Cape Town.
Habitat
Rocky, well-drained mountain slopes
Flower Date
November to February mostly after fire