Satin Froetang

Romulea sabulosa is a low to medium height perennial geophyte of 12–40 cm (4.7–15.7 in) high, that has a subterranean stem, that develops from a corm with a rounded base that is wrapped in a brown tunic with curved pointed teeth. The three to five thread-like leaves emerge directly from the soil, are about 1 mm (0.039 in) in diameter and have four grooves along their lengths. Over a season, one to four flowers may develop per corm. Each flower is subtended by two bracts that have a transparent, often brownish margin. The outer bract mostly has one keel on its upper surface and the transparent margin is narrow, while the inner bract has two keels and the papery margin is wider. The scentless, trimerous flower itself is dark red, sometimes pink, and has black blotches in a creamy green cup. The tepals that are fused in a tube at their base are inverted egg-shaped with a slightly indented tip 2½–4 cm (1–1.6 in) long. The outer tepals have a light yellow feathered stripes. The stamens consist of 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long free filaments topped by anthers of 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long. The stalk supporting the ripe fruit remains more or less erect. Romulea sabulosa flowers can be found from July till September.

Differences with related species. Romulea sabulosa has slender, tapering, mostly pale green filaments, while R. …

Romulea sabulosa is limited to the Bokkeveld plateau along the escarpment west of Nieuwoudtville where it grows in large swarms on a light sandy clay called tillite. The species has been observed to be pollinated exclusively by monkey beetles.