Lampranthus affinis is a striking, easily grown shrublet,
with large, pale pink flowers, and is one of only a few mesembs
that will flower in shady conditions. It is easily distinguished
from other species of Lampranthus by its large flowers, and
its seed capsules that remain open. In other species, they close
up again once the rain has passed and they are dry again.
This is an erect to spreading, rapidly growing, branched shrublet
up to 400 mm high; branching from the base, with spreading side
branches along its erect stems. Stems are cylindric, woody, up to
12 mm in diameter, becoming grey; younger, leafy branches purplish
and 2.5-3 mm in diameter. Roots are fibrous.
The smooth, grey-green-coloured ascending leaves are oblong, slightly
sickle-shaped and rounded to obscurely three-angled in diameter,
35-45 mm long and 3-4 mm wide.
large flowers are carried in cymes at the ends of main branches
during late spring (October-November). Each flower is up to 70 mm
wide, light pink to white, conspicuous. The petals are numerous,
25-30 mm long and 2.5 mm wide. The flowers are pollinated by bees.
The seed capsules are shaped like spinning tops, becoming woody
when mature and opening with moisture, tending to remain open. The
seeds are 1-1.3 mm in diameter and slightly flattened. The capsules
ripen during summer, and although the capsules are opened by water,
the seed is wind dispersed. The plants have a life span of 4-8 years.
Lampranthus affinis is confined to the shady, narrow kloofs
and gorges (north-south orientation) of the Baviaanskloof, Swartberg
and adjacent mountain ranges in the Western and Eastern Cape. It
occurs on vertical cliffs or ledges and at the base of cliffs, at
about 500-1 000 m in altitude (mainly east and west aspects). It
grows in acidic, mineral-poor sandstone soil on sandstone cliffs
in dry fynbos, succulent karoo and thicket vegetation. It is locally
abundant. Temperatures are high during the summers with an average
daily maximum of 27º C and an average daily minimum of 12º
C. Winters are cooler, but frost is absent. Rain falls throughout
the year in thunder showers or cyclonic winter rain, peaking in
spring and summer, ranging between 200-300 mm per annum. Associated
plants that grow with our species include the cliff bulbine (Bulbine
cremnophila), cliff albuca (Albuca cremnophila), cliff
ox-tongue (Gasteria rawlinsonii), woolly cotyledon (Cotyledon
tomentosa), sosatie crassula (Crassula perforata) and
the sickle crassula (C. perfoliata var. minor). These plants
are confined to quartzitic sandstone of the Peninsula Formation
Derivation of name and historical aspects
Lampranthus affinis was described by Dr Louisa Bolus in 1963
from plants collected by Mr Frank Stayner, former curator of the
Karoo National Botanical Gardens in Worcester, in 1961 at Meiringspoort
(Swartberge) near De Rust in Western Cape. The species name affinis
means related or similar to, in Latin, and pertains to its close
affinity to Lampranthus coralliflorus and L. productus
of the same section, section Haworthiana Salm Dyck. The generic
name Lampranthus is from the Greek lampros meaning
bright or shining, and anthos a flower and refers to the
bright shiny flowers. The genus Lampranthus consists of about
120 species, which are amongst the showiest of all mesembs. They
are excellent bedding plants, thriving on rockeries and striking
when in flower.
Growing Lampranthus affinis
affinis is easy to grow and flowers profusely in late spring.
It can be grown in shady situations, but prefers high light intensity,
e.g. open shade (an area that does not necessarily receive direct
sun but is open to the sky) or bright shade. It can also be grown
in semi-shade or full sun. It thrives out of doors but needs protection
from frost. Grow in sandy soil, adding ample bone meal and compost.
Water during winter, spring and summer. The plants have a life span
of 4 to 8 years.
It can be grown in dry fynbos and succulent karoo gardens together
with other succulents such as Cotyledon orbiculata, Aloe microstigma,
A. mitriformis, Crassula tetragona, C. ovata, C. arborescens, C.
perforata, C. rubricaulis and C. rupestris. It grows
well in containers, and is also suitable for a shady verandah (stoep),
or on the shady side of rockeries. The caterpillars of the tiger
moth can be troublesome but are easily removed by hand. The caterpillars
could be fed to local pets such as tilapia, goldfish or omnivorous
It is easily grown from cuttings, rooted in sand during the warmer
months of the year and will flower profusely by the next season.
Take cuttings of about 6-12 cm in length, remove the lower leaves
and plant the lower half in a sandy medium, keeping it moist. Rooting
should occur within 3 weeks and then transfer the cuttings directly
to wherever they are needed. Sow seed in shallow trays in the standard
way and cover lightly with a layer of sand (1-2 mm). Germination
occurs within 4 weeks. Plant the young seedlings as soon as they
are large enough to handle.
- VAN JAARSVELD, E.J. & PIENAAR, U. DE V. 2000. Vygies,
gems of the veld. Cactus & Co. libri, Venegono.
- BOLUS, L. 1962. Notes on Mesembryanthemum and allied
genera. Journal of South African Botany 28: 12-14.
Ernst van Jaarsveld
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden