''Eriospermum breviscapum'' is a species of geophytic plant of the genus ''

Eriospermum ''Eriospermum'' is a genus of tuberous flowering plants. It contains about 80-100 species, native to sub-Saharan Africa. Name The name "Eriospermum" is from the Greek ''erion'' for "wool" and ''sperma'' for "seed". In the APG III classificat ...

'', indigenous to South Africa.

Description

This species has a fleshy, prostrate, heart-shaped-to-rounded leaf (60mm x 80mm). Its leaf resembles that of ''

Eriospermum zeyheri ''Eriospermum zeyheri'' is a species of geophytic plant of the genus ''Eriospermum'', indigenous to South Africa. Description The leaf is a rounded heart-shape (), and is prostrate, held flat against the ground. Several related species, such as ...

'', which has a different distribution range, occurring in the southern Karoo between Barrydale and Grahamstown. It has a short peduncle, compact inflorescence and fragrant, star-like white flowers that appear on the short, conical raceme in February to March. Several related species, such as ''

Eriospermum capense ''Eriospermum capense'' is a species of geophytic plant of the genus ''Eriospermum'', indigenous to the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Description The leaf is heart-shaped (7,5 cm long, 6 cm wide), suberect-to-spreading, and app ...

'', ''

Eriospermum pubescens ''Eriospermum pubescens'' is a species of geophytic plant of the genus ''Eriospermum'', indigenous to the southern Cape, South Africa. Description The leaf is heart-shaped (7 cm long, 6 cm wide), relatively hairless (sometimes with str ...

'' and ''

'', have a similar heart-shaped leaf.

Distribution and habitat

It is a winter rainfall species, endemic to South Africa. It is indigenous to flat rocky shale or clay areas in the Robertson Karoo, and from Robertson as far as Still Bay in the south east. It occurs in Renosterveld and

Succulent Karoo The Succulent Karoo is a ecoregion defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature to include regions of desert in South Africa and Namibia, and a biodiversity hotspot. The geographic area chosen by the WWF for what they call 'Succulent Karoo' does no ...

vegetation. Distribution map
/ref>

References

breviscapum Renosterveld {{Asparagaceae-stub