Daubenya comata seeds grow into a compact bulbous geophyte endemic to the subtropical biome of the south-western Cape Province of South Africa. Transferred to Daubenya by Manning & van der Merwe, formerly known as Massonia comata Burch. ex Baker (1870) and also treated as Polyxena comata Baker and Neobakeria comata Schltr. The epithet comata means 'long-haired' or 'tufted', referring to the tufted or hairy character of the flowers or tepals. One of approximately 8 species in the small genus Daubenya, all of which are Cape endemics producing only two leaves per bulb that lie flat on the ground on either side, with the dense, condensed inflorescence emerging close to the soil surface between them — a remarkably low, ground-hugging growth form unlike most other Cape bulbs. The genus Daubenya was named by John Lindley (1799–1865). Family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae.Full sun; very well-drained sandy or rocky soils; dry summer dormancy; cool wet winters — Mediterranean Cape climate of the Western Cape. 'Comata' = long-haired/tufted; hairy or tufted tepals — diagnostic character Formerly Massonia comata Burch. ex Baker (1870); Polyxena comata Baker; Neobakeria comata Schltr. SW. Cape Prov. — subtropical biome; fynbos and renosterveld; Cape endemic Only 2 leaves per bulb, lying flat on the ground; inflorescence close to soil — unique growth form Full sun; well-drained sandy soils; dry summer; Mediterranean Cape; Family Asparagaceae Daubenya comata is the tufted Cape bulb — producing its dense, ground-hugging inflorescence between just two flat-lying leaves in the winter rainfall fynbos of the south-western Cape, one of the most distinctive growth forms among the Cape's extraordinary geophyte flora and a botanical rarity representative of the globally important Cape Floristic Region. IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
