Cyanella lutea (commonly known as "Five-fingers" or "Geelraaptol") is a species of cormous herb, native to South Africa (Cape Provinces and Free State) and southern Namibia, where it grows in clay-rich or loamy soils.

Cyanella lutea
Cyanella lutea subspecies rosea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Tecophilaeaceae
Genus: Cyanella
Species:
C. lutea
Binomial name
Cyanella lutea
L.f.

Description

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It has a flat basal rosette (plants reach a height of 25 cm) of 4-6 lanceolate, crisped (wavy margins), ribbed leaves. The rosette of leaves usually dies off, before the flowers appear.

The yellow or pink flowers are 15mm wide and appear on a branched inflorescence in late Spring.

Subspecies

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References

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  1. ^ "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org.
  2. ^ "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org.
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