Flora Detail
| Common Name | Red Nerine |
| Family | Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis, Onions, and Allies) |
| Date Observed | 28-04-2023 |
| Category | Bulbs/Rhizomes |
|---|---|
| Catalogue No. | 7765RG |
| Flowering Time | Autumn |
| Colour | Red |
| Locations Observed | |
| Estuary | |
| Koppie | |
| Nature Reserve | |
| Small Holding | Few |
| Village | |
| Greater Rooiels | Few |
Nerine sarniensis
Information
Red Nerine
Nerine sarniensis is widely considered to be the most beautiful of all the nerines.
Description
The highly ornamental endemic southern African genus Nerine comprises 25 species and is represented in Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and in all nine provinces of South Africa.
Based on growth cycle under cultivation in temperate climates, the species of Nerine can conveniently be placed into three distinct groups, namely winter-growing, summer-growing and evergreen species. Nerine sarniensis belongs to the small group of four winter-growing species.
The bulbs begin active growth in early autumn with the emergence of flowerbuds, followed shortly afterwards by leaves. The spectacular, glittering blooms are quite unmistakable; the relatively broad petals radiate outwards in all directions and are strongly recurved and wavy along their margins. The inflorescence carries from seven to fifteen flowers and the stamens stand erect and are particularly conspicuous due to the recurved petals. Flower colour ranges from crimson to scarlet and from pale pink to deep rose-pink, and there is also a most attractive pure white form. The glittering 'gold dust' seen in bright light on the petals of the red forms of this species is caused by the reflection of light by the red pigment present in the epidermal cell layer, which overlays several layers of yellow pigment beneath it. Similarly, the glittering 'silver dust' seen in bright light on the petals of the white form of this species is caused by the reflection and refraction of light at the epidermal cell surfaces, and from within the cells.
The spreading, strap-shaped leaves of Nerine sarniensis vary markedly in colour, from pale to dark green or grey, depending on the particular wild habitat the plant originates from. Towards the end of spring, as temperatures rise, the leaves begin to go yellow and dry up as the bulbs enter the long, dry summer dormant period.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (LC), Nerine sarniensis is not threatened.
Distribution and habitat
Nerine sarniensis is restricted to rocky mountain slopes in the Western Cape from Citrusdal to Caledon, where it grows on south- and north-west facing slopes.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
This beautiful Nerine has a colourful history. The often-told but unlikely tale of how boxes of bulbs of South Africa's most famous Nerine, consigned for Holland, were cast away from a sinking ship in 1659 and took root and flourished on the shores of Guernsey in the Channel Islands, has become something of a botanical legend. Whatever the truth is regarding the arrival of Nerine sarniensis on Guernsey, its bulbs have been cultivated there for more than three centuries, and continue to be grown there for their cut flowers.
The cleric and amaryllid expert, Rev. William Herbert, established the genus Nerine in 1820. He named it after Nerine, a guardian sea nymph sent by the Roman goddess Venus to rescue Vasco da Gama's armada en route to India, referring to the story of the shipwreck and the rescue of the bulbs. The specific epithet sarniensis refers to the Island of Sarnia, the Roman name for Guernsey, where Nerine sarniensis was at one time thought to have occurred naturally.
Ecology
The flowers of the red forms of this species are pollinated by the mountain pride butterfly, Meneris tulbaghia, which also pollinates the red forms of other striking bulbous species Brunsvigia marginata and Cyrtanthus guthrieae.
SANBI
