Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Slangui

Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus)

Distribution: Southern Namibia to Western Karoo and Eastern Cape

Habitat: Stony flats or slopes

National red list: Least Concern

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

Comments: This geophyte is not a Cape endemic, occurring from Southern Namibia to the Eastern Cape. The genus Dipcadi is a small one, consisting of only about 30 species which occur mainly in southern Africa but also in Asia, India and Madagascar. All of the species in this genus have dull-coloured, tubular flowers and many are night-scented. It has been observed that Dipcadi brevifolium is pollinated by Syngrapha circumflexa, a noctuid moth which is also responsible for the pollination of other fragrant, night-scented species, and it is believed that other noctuid moths most likely also act as pollinators for this Dipcadi species.