According to Snijman (1984), this species occurs in a very limited range from Klawer to Vanrhynsdorp. This is on the banks of the Wiedourivier and the lower slopes of the Gifberg, below about 800 ft. elevation. The area gets less than 6 inches of rain per year. My understanding is that it is quite rare, although less scarce in nature than canaliculatus, nortieri, and the other ultra-rare species.

Haemanthus lanceifolius, Leaves

There are two (or rarely, three) oblong to elliptical leaves which lay flat on the ground. The upper (adaxial) surface is dark green with a rough feel. The lower (abaxial) surface is light green in color. The margins of the leaves have a cartilaginous structure, smooth or fringed; they have a maroon or a hyaline color. The leaves are fairly easy to recognize as belonging to this species, once you have seen them.

Haemanthus lanceifolius Leaf Margin

      
Bulb of Haemanthus lanceifolius

The bulbs are small, about 2 inches in diameter, round to oval in cross section. The tunics have oblique margins.

D. Snijman (1984) "A Revision of The Genus Haemanthus L. (Amaryllidaceae)" Journal of South African Botany, Suppl. vol. 12. Trustees of the National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, publishers.

Other Sources of Information

• Bulbs for Warm Climates, Thad M. Howard, University of Texas Press, Austin (2001).
  
• Bulbs, Revised Edition, John E. Bryan, Timber Press, Portland (2002).
  
• RHS Manual of Bulbs, John Bryan and Mark Griffiths, Eds., Timber Press, Portland (1995).
  
• The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs, John Manning, Peter Goldblatt, & Dee Snijman, Timber Press, Portland and Cambridge (2002).
  
• Cape Bulbs, Richard L. Doutt, Timber Press, Portland and Cambridge (1994).
  
• Namaqualand. South African Wild Flower Guide 1, Annelise Le Roux & Ted Schelpe, Botanical Society of South Africa, Cape Town (1988).
  
• Outeniqua. South African Wild Flower Guide 2, Audrey Moriarity, Botanical Society of South Africa, Cape Town (1982).
  
• Karoo. South African Wild Flower Guide 6, David Shearing, Botanical Society of South Africa, Cape Town (1994).
  
• West Coast. South African Wild Flower Guide 7, John Manning & Peter Goldblatt, Botanical Society of South Africa, Cape Town (1996).
  
• Southern Overberg. South African Wild Flower Guide 8, Penny Mustart, Richard Cowling, Janice Albertyn, & Colin Patterson-Jones, Botanical Society of South Africa, Cape Town (1997).
  
• Nieuwoudtville. South African Wild Flower Guide 9, John Manning & Peter Goldblatt, Botanical Society of South Africa, Cape Town (1997).
  

Last updated 13 February 2013
© Copyright 2013 by James E. Shields. All rights reserved.