Eucomis regia
Eucomis regia is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is sometimes cultivated, but requires protection in a greenhouse in temperate climates. Description. "Eucomis regia" is a winter-growing bulbous plant. In flower, it reaches up to tall or less. It grows from a small ovoid bulb, usually solitary, about across. The leaves are about long and wide. They have a rough surface, ridged along the leaf veins, and very small indentations along the margins. They lie flat on the ground. "E. regia" flowers  from late winter to early spring, dying down completely during the dry summer. The greenish flowers lack obvious pedicels (stalks), being sunken into the scape (stem). They have an unpleasant smell. The flower spike is topped by a head or "coma" of ovate bracts, long enough in some forms to hide the flowers almost completely. Taxonomy. The species was first described, as "Fritillaria regia", by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. In 1789, Charles L'Héritier transferred it to his new genus "Eucomis". "Eucomis pillansii" has been treated as a separate species or as the subspecies "E. regia" subsp. "pillansii", but is now  included in "E. regia". "E. regia" is one of the mainly short, diploid species of "Eucomis" with 2"n" = 2"x" = 30 chromosomes. Distribution and habitat. "Eucomis regia" is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is found in two areas in the south west of the Western Cape and the Northern Cape, in the winter rainfall zone. It is restricted to heavy clay soils in open areas or in renosterveld vegetation, amongst rocks on shaded south-facing hillsides. Cultivation. "Eucomis regia" has been described as "possibly the least attractive "Eucomis". As it is only half-hardy and  requires a completely dry rest in summer, it has to be grown in a greenhouse in regions with temperate climates, such as the British Isles.