Plants of the Cradle of Humankind: Scadoxus puniceus

In 2010 Maropeng took home a silver certificate in the Landscape and Turf Maintenance and Water-Wise categories at the South African Landscapers Institute (Sali) Awards for the maintenance of its grasslands and wetlands. In this series we highlight a few of the incredible plant species found in the Cradle of Humankind.

Scadoxus puniceus

When the indigenous Scadoxus puniceus presents itself in spring, sunbirds, weavers and other nectar-loving birds make a beeline for the large scarlet flowerheads.

Also known as the Blood Lily, Scadoxus reaches a height of about 50cm, and has large glossy leaves that appear after the flowerheads. Usually found in areas of shade such as forests or ravines, the Scadoxus flowerhead is about 15cm in diameter, and consists of masses of tiny scarlet flowers each with a yellow anther.

When summer ends and flowering is over, the Scadoxus berries are adored by monkeys, which need to make haste as all foliage dies down quite quickly in autumn.

The large bulb, which remains dormant in winter, is poisonous, although small amounts have been used in traditional medicine to treat gastro-intestinal ailments, and to ensure a safe pregnancy.