Massonia is a genus of South African bulbs in the Hyacinthaceae with distinctive pairs of prostrate leaves that lie flat on the ground like a placemat for the umbels of fragrant flowers nestled at their base. Some species have a distinctly musty aroma to attract gerbil pollinators, like Massonia depressa, while Massonia echinata has sweetly scented flowers likely pollinated by moths. The tight umbels resemble a small sea urchin, with white flowers featuring purple tinged stamens. We offer seedlings (HBG 137469) from controlled pollination of HBG 68106, plants collected by Jim Berdach (#11182), July 24, 1990, 3 km south of the junction of Bluecliff road with the Addo to Kirkwood road, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This area receives some summer rainfall, but that seems to have little effect on the winter growth pattern of this species. $8.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 93 (2), Summer 2021