"ook?!": plant i.d. ???

Thursday, 23 March 2017

This plant looks as if it may be parasitic on the roots of the shrub, whether on dead or live matter.

Susan Heather said...: It's pretty - never seen it before.; 24 March 2017 at 00:13
Barbara Rogers said...: How curious, no leaves of it's own, makes me think some leaf-like thing might come after flowering. Beautiful, but don't eat it!; 24 March 2017 at 19:32
gz said...: It is a Southern African plant, Haemanthus coccineus, Rooikwas, "April Fool" as it flowers around 1 April, or Common Paintbrush. Quite useful from the sound of it with the flat leaves, which disappear before the flowers, used as dressings for septic ulcers and sores, and the bulb cut up and boikd in water with vinegar and honey, and the tea used to treat asthma; 25 March 2017 at 02:43
gz said...: The leaves come first; 25 March 2017 at 03:35
Fresca said...: I checked back to see if you'd discovered what it was---April Fool! Neat!; 25 March 2017 at 16:35