Photographed on the Roggeveld by Audrey Cain

Daubenya aurea

This species is only known from the Roggeveld in the Middelpos area, where winter temperatures can fall to -15^oC.  It occurs in separate yellow- and red-flowered colonies; the red being the commoner. It is quite unmistakeable in being the only Massonia or Daubenya with one well-developed petal per flower. Although cold-hardy, it needs overhead protection in the UK, where it is somewhat tricky to cultivate. However, it is available in South African garden centres at about 60p(UK) per field-grown bulb.