Daubenya

Daubenya alba

This is a gorgeous new, white flowered species with elongated white or pale violet flowers borne on quite long pedicels. It also has a long, slender, cylindrical flower tube. It differs, even from its closest relatives by several additional botanical features, which separate it from all of the other species, but for the gardener it is perhaps enough to know that it looks like no other species and is very lovely with its loosely borne flowers sitting just above two 0phrys-like leaves.

This has been in cultivation since the 1990s, as an un-named species which was later described in 2002. In the wild (I stress that these are cultivated plants) it is limited to a handful of localities in the Roggersveld where it is said to grow on waterlogged clay derived from Dolerite.

In cultivation it will not accept water-logging, instead provide ‘normal’ Daubenya conditions of a low nutrient compost, low in humus with sharp drainage and irregular watering, don’t keep it wet! Drainage material can be pumice, round-grained river sand or round-grained aquarium gravel.

Photo © Rino D'Amatto, with thanks

Daubenya albadaualbalb	£47.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Flowering sized bulbs about 1.2cm diameter. Large view

Daubenya capense

(Androsiphon capense)
A stunning plant and one which I have long wanted to offer. Like many Daubenya, the species has a very limited distribution. All of the known populations are restricted to the Bokkeveld escarpment in the N.W. Cape, where it is found only on doleritic clays.

The species has two, ovate, ribbed leaves. It has yellow flowers, borne in mid-winter in a slightly elongated, yet dense tuft, between these leaves. The flowers are firm-textured and they are a vivid, rich, golden-yellow with the stamens and styles ever so slightly flushed and streaked with orange-red, though the predominant impression and colour remains a deep, vivid golden yellow. The flowers are borne close to the ground and are yeast-scented, apparent indicators of rodent pollination.

A great rarity, seldom seen in cultivation. It was first found in 1897 by Schlecter but not then named (by him) until 27 years later. After a 100 years of being known this is still only confirmed from a few scattered populations around Nieuwoudtville.

Cultivation presents no difficulty to those already familiar with the needs and preferences of Daubenya.

Daubenya comata

A remarkable species from the Free State in South Africa. The plant has two, attractive, wavy-edged, elongated leaves, each some 15cm long by 2cm wide. These have a prominent yellowish central stripe.

Between these is a lovely tufted inflorescence of white, lavender or pink, flowers closely packed together. This stock shows a lovely variation right across the colour spectrum for the species. The flowers are usually 3cm tall and the umbel 4–5cm wide with 5-40 individual blooms.

In addition to their obvious beauty the flowers are very strongly and spicily scented, both in the day and the evening.

A good, fertile, loam-based compost is fine in cultivation but use LOTS of silver sand or rounded porous gravel - not sharp grit. Moist in spring then dry after the top growth yellows. Like all Daubenya, it needs glasshouse culture in the UK, but the plant is subject to light frosts in the wild and does not need, nor like, anything too hot and dry in cultivation.

Photograph copyright © Connall Oosterbroek, used with permission.

Daubenya comata SpecimensdaucomcomSpecimens	£19.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The largest specimen bulbs made by this species, over 2.2cm across and 2cm tall Large view

Daubenya marginata

(Neobakeria angustifolia)

This has a small bulb and a pair of quite decorative, fish-knife shaped leaves that lie flat on the soil surface. These are present with the flowers and sit either side of a tufted, congested globe of orange to red flowers, borne almost at ground level. The anthers are bright yellow and are carried on bright orange to red filaments, which all stick up out of the central flower mass. It looks as if tiny flames are dancing over the flowers.

Sun, good drainage and freedom from frost, this is more of an alpine house subject than a hot greenhouse plant.

This is the very best form. Our seed is traceable to Fransplaas, near Sutherland on the Roggersveld Escarpment where it grows with the red forms of D. aurea. It is notable for the strong orangey colouring in the flowers.

Photograph © Nobukatsu Matsuyama, used with permission.

Daubenya marginatadaumarmar	£16.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Grown from seeds collected north-west of Sutherland. Flowering size and almost so Large view

Daubenya stylosa

One of the most attractive species in what is anyway, a fabulous little genus composed of superstars. This one has with glowing bright yellow flowers. The petals have a very slight tinge of green whilst the long style and the filaments which hold the anthers are bright yellow. The overall effect is stunning.

The flowers which have a strong scent of honey and ooze nectar, are bee and butterfly pollinated. This different scent and a very distinct floral structure attracts different pollinators and helps keep this species distinct from the D. capense which also grows at the same few places. The two do not hybridise due to the very different nature of their pollinators. Unlike most species, the seed of stylosa is comparatively large and heavy and spreads only locally (it is not wind dispersed as in many Daubenya).

This is autumnal, flowering from October to November and is known only from a few populations in the immediate vicinity of Nieuwoudtville (see D. capense) where it grows in red doleritic clay. The species was discovered in 1934 and named just two years later. It is our rarest offering and the stock is very very small indeed.

Daubenya zeyheri

The taxonomy of Daubenya has recently been revised after extensive field studies. Some names of convenience, used to distinguish different populations, are now defined as distinct species. Some are synonyms, e.g. Massonia zeyheri becomes Daubenya zeyheri. Others are more complicated. It is NOT possible to simply say that M. angustifolia is D. angustifolia. The 'Karoo form' actually is D. marginata, the 'Namaqualand form' is D. namaquensis. The 'west coast form' is D. zeyheri. I mention this as there is a lot of inaccurate information on the Internet already, despite the newness of the revision.

The species is a glorious one with paired, glossy, deep-green leaves and small stunning clusters of spidery red flowers, each of which has a purple centre. This fills with nectar and glistens, like no other species. In the wild this grows in sand, over limestone, good drainage is suggested.

A rare plant, this is only the second offering that we know of.

Photograph © Connall Oosterbroek, with permission.

Tender and Greenhouse bulbs :-

A listing of all of the tender genera that we grow