Brunsvigia herrei is also a mountain dweller in its arid Richtersveld homeland. It is found throughout the rocky hills of the region.

The bulb furnishes provisions for the frequent lean periods that test all that lives here. In the case of the geophyte, the large bulb acts as the bank for nutrients and moisture. What else could a plant want? (Maybe an air conditioner?)

The generally desiccated appearance of the plant's habitat is annually brightened by these autumn flowers. They are truly the momentous feature of their bleak neighbourhood, heralding a festive break for a couple of weeks (Williams, 2010; www.plantzafrica.com).