Practical
Plants

Bobartia indica

a perennial member of the Bobartia genus in the family Iridaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Iridaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The tough, rush-like leaves are used in basket making[5][6].

Product or use
Basketry

Environment

Range
S. Africa
Habitat
Sandy mountain slopes and flats below 500 metres in the south-western Cape[7][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest that the seed is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Sow stored seed in early spring in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow on the plants in the greenhouse for at least the first winter planting them out in late spring. Division in autumn[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very sunny position and a gritty soil[1][4][7]. Plants prefer a moist winter followed by a dry summer[3]. Plants require protection from severe frosts (below about -5°c) and excessive rain, but they are otherwise hardy in Britain[1][2]. Individual flowers are about 5cm in diameter and only live for one day[3]. The rhizomes establish themselves very deeply in the soil[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  6. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  7. Innes. C. The World of Iridaceae

    ↩1↩2

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