Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. sanguinea

Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. sanguinea

Observation - Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. sanguinea - Southern Africa. Description: Low growing on the forest floor. Stump part looks similar to 'bobbejaanstert'. The red flowering parts (?) seem as if they are just developing. I saw this in Morning Sun Nature Reserve, about 15km north of Louis Trichardt. It was situated on the bottom re

Low growing on the forest floor. Stump part looks similar to 'bobbejaanstert'. The red flowering parts (?) seem as if they are just developing. I saw this in Morning Sun Nature Reserve, about 15km north of Louis Trichardt. It was situated on the bottom reaches of the south facing slope of the Soutpansberg mountain.

I returned to the site where I found the first specimen. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, field time was restricted to an afternoon. I couldn't relocate the first specimen due to time and light constraints,so I was unable to make observations regarding further growth. I did manage to track down two more specimens. The three different sites were approximately 1 km apart, but in the same aspect as described above.

There was no insect or any other activity at or near the sites. There was no visible leaf disturbance either.

The plants exuded no perceptible odour, but one of the local people said that they used it for 'all kinds of' medicinal purposes. Apparently they harvested the flowering part and kept it in a bag, which after some time emitted a most pungent smell.

Apparently the plant is quite well known amongst the local population, and that it is observed on a fairly regular basis.

I was informed that the site where I observed Specimen 3 is a very productive area, but I could not determine which time of year it was most productive.

I will return to the area towards the end of October for further investigation.