Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Hessea

Family: Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis)

Synonym: Hessea crispa

Distribution: Riverlands, Joostenberg and Cape Peninsula

Habitat: Peaty lowlands

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Endangered

Life form: Geophyte (bulb, corm or tuber - seasonally dormant)

Comments: This charming Cape bulb is found only from the Cape Peninsula to Joostenberg. It has already lost more than half of its habitat due to the urban expansion of the City of Cape Town. The subpopulations that still survive are confined to small fragments which are currently threatened by alien invasion. Like many other plants in the fynbos biome, Hessea cinnamomea flowers spectacularly after a fire. Then its beautiful white to pink flowers with their spicy scent appear.