Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: kandelaarblom, perdespookbossie, candelabra flower, chandelier lily, chandelier plant, king candelabra, sore-eye flower

Family: Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis)

Distribution: Western Cape

Habitat: Sandy flats

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Least Concern

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

Comments: When the large, spherical flowering heads of Brunsvigia orientalis emerge from the ground in late summer, it makes for a spectacular display. The deep pink to red flowers bloom especially well after late summer and early autumn showers. The flowers are pollinated by sunbirds, which are attracted to the red colour of the flowers and the nectar in the flower tube. After flowering, the flowering head dries out, breaks off the plant and the wind blows this spherical head around which then drops its seeds wherever it goes. Like many species in the Amaryllis family, the bulbs of these plants contain toxic alkaloids. Brunsivigia orientalis is widely distributed across the winter-rainfall area in South Africa.