ASPHODELACEAE

Trachyandra saltii var. saltii

Salty Capespinach

Wildflowers

Local Context

Common in the estate and widespread across Africa. Can be confused with Chlorophytum sp.

Identification

Growth: Perennial grass-like herb (up to 50–70 cm tall) growing from a small underground rhizome with fleshy, sometimes swollen roots.
Flowers: White with a distinct dark brown, green, or purple stripe down the center of each petal, arranged in simple spikes (racemes); the main flower stalk often curves outward at the base, pushing the flowers away from the leaves, and the flowers typically open in the afternoon.
Leaves: Long, narrow, and grass-like (up to 74 cm long), growing in a rosette at the base; they vary in shape from flat to rolled or gutter-shaped.
Texture: Leaves vary from smooth to hairy (sometimes with soft, long, or curly hairs); the flower stalks can also be hairy.
Fruit: Small, roundish capsule (2–5 mm wide) that is usually smooth and contains angled seeds.

Did You Know?

The species name saltii honors Henry Salt (1780-1827), a British artist, traveler, and diplomat who collected the plant in Abyssinia.