Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Yellow soldier, Lachenalia

Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus)

Distribution: Malmesbury to Cape Peninsula

Habitat: Lowland sand plain fynbos or renosterveld on seasonally inundated sandy flats.

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Vulnerable

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

Comments: This Cape bulb has bright yellow, urn-shaped flowers which can be seen from winter to early spring. It grows on wet sandy flats from Malmesbury to the Cape Peninsula. It produces a lot of seed which is dispersed rather close to the motherplant, resulting in dense colonies. Interestingly, even though it is threatened in its natural habitat, it has become naturalised in Australia and has become quite invasive there.This species is threatened by habitat loss due to urban expansion, crop cultivation and livestock trampling.