Genus: Bulbs & Caudiciform
Adenia
Adenia
Genus of caudiciform and climbing plants in the Passifloraceae family, distributed across tropical Africa, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia. Species develop large globose or columnar basal caudices that store water and nutrients, enabling survival through prolonged droughts. Foliage is deciduous or semi-deciduous; all parts contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides. Highly valued in succulent and caudex bonsai collecting.
Adenium
Adenium
Genus of caudiciform succulents in the Apocynaceae family, native to arid and semi-arid regions of eastern Africa, southern Arabia, and the Horn of Africa. Popularly known as desert roses or impala lilies, they are distinguished by their showy tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and bicolor, and by their swollen caudex that acts as a water reservoir. Widely cultivated as houseplants and bonsai worldwide.
Agapanthus
Agapanthus
Albuca
Albuca
Genus of perennial bulbous plants in the Asparagaceae family, native primarily to southern Africa. Albucas grow from underground bulbs and produce basal leaves that can be linear, channeled, or notably spiralized in some species. The nodding white-yellowish to green flowers have three inner petals with green or yellow stripes. Many species enter summer dormancy.
Allium
Allium
Ammocharis
Ammocharis
Genus of bulbous geophytes in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to sub-Saharan and southern Africa. They produce large umbels of fragrant pink or red flowers above strap-like leaves. Grow in seasonally dry sandy soils with a summer rest period. Several species are medicinal in African ethnobotany.
Arum
Arum
Beaucarnea
Beaucarnea
Genus of caudiciform plants in the family Asparagaceae, native to Mexico and Central America. Characterized by their bulbous base or swollen caudex that stores water and nutrients, and their crown of long drooping leaves. The best-known species is B. recurvata (ponytail palm), one of the world's most sold indoor plants.
Begonia
Begonia
Boophone
Boophone
Genus of bulbous geophytes in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to sub-Saharan and southern Africa. Produce enormous partly exposed bulbs and very showy umbels of pink or reddish flowers. Highly toxic — contain lycorine alkaloids. The San and Khoikhoi used them as arrow poison and in traditional medicine.
Bowiea
Bowiea
Genus of bulbous geophytes in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to eastern and southern Africa. They produce an exposed green photosynthesizing bulb from which highly branched twining stems emerge. The best-known species, B. volubilis, is commonly called "climbing onion" and is highly prized in succulent and caudiciform collections.
Bravoa
Bravoa
Genus of bulbous geophytes in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to Mexico and Central America. They produce bulbs or rhizomes and erect flowering stems with tubular red or orange flowers. Currently many species are classified within the genus Polianthes, of which Bravoa was formerly a synonym.
Brodiaea
Brodiaea
Genus of bulbous geophytes in the family Themidaceae, native to North and South America. They produce corms and umbels of blue-violet, pink or white flowers. The species listed here are mainly South American (Argentine, Chilean and Andean) species historically classified under this genus.
Brunsvigia
Brunsvigia
Genus of spectacular bulbous geophytes in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to South Africa, Namibia and parts of eastern Africa. They produce enormous bulbs and umbels of red, pink or orange flowers that can reach 50 cm in diameter. After flowering, the floral scape detaches and rolls like tumbleweed dispersing the seeds. They are slow-growing plants highly prized in horticulture.
Bryonia
Bryonia
Historical genus of the family Cucurbitaceae including climbing plants with rhizomes or tubers, native to Europe, Africa and Asia. The South African species listed under Bryonia have largely been reclassified under Kedrostis, although the name Bryonia persists in collections and older literature. They are caudiciform plants highly sought by succulent and caudiciform collectors.
Calibanus
Calibanus
A small genus of caudiciform plants from Mexico, belonging to the family Asparagaceae. They form a spectacular woody or corky caudex from which rigid, needle-like grass-like leaves emerge. Extremely drought-tolerant and sought after by collectors of rare plants.
Callithauma
Callithauma
A small or monotypic genus of bulbous geophytes in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to the South American Andes. The taxonomy of this genus is debated; some authorities treat it as a synonym of Stenomesson or Clinanthus. They produce tubular flowers in umbels on scapose stems.
Camassia
Camassia
Canna
Canna
Cephalopentandra
Cephalopentandra
Monospecific or bitypic genus of the Cucurbitaceae family native to East and Northeast Africa. Species are rare caudiciform plants with a semi-buried succulent caudex, slender annual stems and small yellow flowers. Unlike most Cucurbitaceae, they lack tendrils (hence the epithet "ecirrhosa"). Classified under Bulbs and Caudiciformes due to their caudiciform growth habit, they are of interest among collectors of unusual succulent plants.
Charybdis
Charybdis
Genus of bulbous geophytes belonging to the subfamily Scilloideae of Asparagaceae (= Hyacinthaceae). Distributed mainly in the Mediterranean, Macaronesia and North Africa. Species produce large bulbs with fleshy scales and basal leaves. Flowers are produced on dense scapes. Several genera have been included in Charybdis (including Urginea and Drimia sensu lato). Many species contain cardiac glycosides (scilliroside) and have been used medicinally.
Clistoyucca
Clistoyucca
Clivia
Clivia
Coccinia
Coccinia
Coilonox
Coilonox
Colchicum
Colchicum
Collyris
Collyris
Coniandra
Coniandra
Crinum
Crinum
Crocosmia
Crocosmia
Cyclamen
Cyclamen
Dahlia
Dahlia
Daubenya
Daubenya
Dendrosicyos
Dendrosicyos
Monotypic genus of the family Cucurbitaceae endemic to the island of Socotra (Yemen), the only true tree in the entire cucumber family. Its name literally means "cucumber tree" (dendro = tree, sicyos = cucumber). Dendrosicyos socotrana is a caudiciform tree with a very swollen pachycaul trunk of whitish, papery bark, adapted to the extreme arid conditions of the island. Socotra Island harbours one of the highest levels of botanical endemism on the planet and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tree is one of the most iconic symbols of Socotran flora.
Dipcadi
Dipcadi
Dracaena
Dracaena
Large genus of plants in the family Asparagaceae (subfamily Nolinoideae) including more than 120 species of trees, shrubs, and rosulate plants distributed across Africa, tropical Asia, Pacific islands, and the Canary Islands. Dracaenas are famous for their red resin known as "dragon's blood", produced especially by D. draco and D. cinnabari, used for centuries in varnishes, dyes, incenses, and medicine. The genus harbours some of the most long-lived and architecturally unique arboreal forms in the plant kingdom: D. draco can live for more than 1,000 years. It also includes numerous ornamental indoor species (D. fragrans, D. marginata, D. trifasciata) very common in worldwide domestic gardening.
Drimia
Drimia
Drimia is a genus of bulbous plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Urgineoideae (formerly placed in Hyacinthaceae). It comprises around 100 species native primarily to Africa, with diversity centers in the southern and eastern parts of the continent, though some species extend into the Mediterranean region and southwestern Asia. Plants in this genus are characterized by large tunicate bulbs, basal leaves that often appear after flowering, and racemes or spikes of small white, greenish, or pinkish flowers. Many species contain cardiotoxic glycosides (bufadienolides) and have been used in traditional African and European medicine since antiquity.
Drimiopsis
Drimiopsis
Eriospermum
Eriospermum
Genus of South African geophytes growing from underground corms or tubers. Their most distinctive trait is a unique leaf blade that in many species develops papillose, lobed or highly complex appendages on its adaxial surface. Belonging to Asparagaceae (subfamily Eriospermoidea), the genus comprises over 100 species distributed primarily in southwestern Africa.
Eucomis
Eucomis
Eulophia
Eulophia
Genus of geophytic terrestrial orchids distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical Africa. They develop underground pseudobulbs or corms that allow them to survive prolonged seasonal droughts. Comprises over 200 species with zygomorphic, often showy flowers in pink, purple, white, and yellow tones.
Ficus
Ficus
Genus of plants in the family Moraceae; includes edible figs and caudiciform species of great interest for bonsai cultivation and caudex plants.
Fockea
Fockea
Genus of caudiciform plants in the family Apocynaceae; they form massive subterranean caudices that can weigh over 100 kg; distributed in southern and eastern Africa.
Freesia
Freesia
Gastronema
Gastronema
Monospecific genus of family Amaryllidaceae, native to the Western Cape of South Africa. Produces bulbs and tubular reddish flowers in umbels.
Gerrardanthus
Gerrardanthus
Genus of caudiciform plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to eastern and southern Africa. They develop a massive woody caudex at the base from which slender climbing stems emerge, capable of reaching several meters in length. Highly prized in succulent and caudiciform collections for their architectural form and slow growth.
Gethyllis
Gethyllis
Gladiolus
Gladiolus
Gloriosa
Gloriosa
Griffinia
Griffinia
Habranthus
Habranthus
Haemanthus
Haemanthus
Genus of bulbous plants in family Amaryllidaceae, native mainly to southern and eastern Africa. Known as "blood lilies" for their striking red, orange, or white spadix-like inflorescences. Tunicate bulbs producing 1–2 pairs of large fleshy leaves.
Harpagophytum
Harpagophytum
Genus of caudiciform plants in family Pedaliaceae, native to southern Africa. Known as "devil's claw" for their fruits with sharp hooks. Large secondary tuberous roots with recognised medicinal uses.
Hessea
Hessea
Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum
Genus of bulbous plants from tropical and subtropical America (mainly South America). Large, showy flowers in umbels of 2-6 flowers. Widely cultivated as ornamentals worldwide, especially as indoor plants during the Christmas period in the northern hemisphere. Comprises around 90 wild species and hundreds of horticultural hybrids.
Hoarea
Hoarea
Genus of geophytic pelargoniums with fleshy tubers, endemic to southwestern and southern South Africa (mainly Western Cape). Herbaceous plants with feathery leaves and highly ornamental irregular flowers.
Hydnophytum
Hydnophytum
Genus of myrmecophytic epiphytic plants from Southeast Asia with a swollen, succulent basal caudex that houses ant colonies. Ants protect the plant and provide nutrients. Belongs to the family Rubiaceae.
Hymenocallis
Hymenocallis
Hypoxis
Hypoxis
Genus of geophytic plants with corms or rhizomes, known as "star grass" for their star-shaped yellow, white or pink flowers. Linear to lanceolate leaves. Distributed in Africa, America and Asia.
Ibervillea
Ibervillea
Genus of caudiciform vines in the family Cucurbitaceae with tuberous roots emerging from the soil. Native to southwestern North America. Plants form a turnip-like caudex that stores water and nutrients. Lobed leaves and small flowers.
Impatiens
Impatiens
Large genus with more than 1000 species, mainly tropical. Species of interest to collectors include plants with succulent stems or caudiciform tuberous roots from Thailand, Madagascar and Africa. Highly showy flowers.
Ipomoea
Ipomoea
Large genus with over 500 species of vines, herbs and subshrubs, widely distributed across tropics and subtropics. Species of succulent interest are African geophytes with large succulent tubers that store water and nutrients during the dry season.
Ixia
Ixia
Jenkinsonia
Jenkinsonia
Genus of geophytic plants in the family Geraniaceae, with well-developed tuberous roots that allow survival through dry seasons. Closely allied to Pelargonium — sometimes treated as section Jenkinsonia within that genus — and originally described by Sweet. Its members are low-growing shrublets with showy zygomorphic flowers in pink and purple tones, characteristic of the bulbous and caudiform flora of the South African Cape.
Kedrostis
Kedrostis
Genus of caudiciform climbing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, known as "African cucumber relatives". Tuberous geophytes with a prominent caudex that stores water and nutrients, allowing them to survive prolonged droughts. Climbing stems are annual or semi-permanent, with tendrils, lobed leaves, and small unisexual flowers. Fruits are small berries, often brightly coloured. Of great importance in caudiciform plant collections.
Lachenalia
Lachenalia
Lannea
Lannea
Genus of deciduous trees and shrubs in the family Anacardiaceae distributed in tropical Africa, Madagascar, and tropical Asia. Some species such as L. microcarpa (African plum) and L. acida produce edible fruits with a tart flavour highly valued in West Africa. Others inhabit island enclaves of extraordinary endemism, such as L. aspleniifolia from Socotra Island. The genus name honours Swedish naturalist Erik Acharius, although the etymology of the generic name traces back to the Arabic term for this type of tree.
Lasiostoma
Lasiostoma
Genus of the Rubiaceae family with caudiciform myrmecophilous species (plants that house ant colonies in their hollow caudex). Distributed in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Its species form swollen tubers or caudex that serve as habitat for ants in mutualistic relationships.
Ledebouria
Ledebouria
Genus of bulbous geophytes in the Asparagaceae family (subfamily Scilloideae), distributed mainly in southern Africa. Their bulbs are generally exposed above the soil, which is unusual among geophytes. The leaves are fleshy and frequently spotted or striped with decorative patterns. It is a genus widely cultivated as a houseplant for its low maintenance and ornamental appearance.
Loncomelos
Loncomelos
Genus of the family Asparagaceae, closely related to Ornithogalum. Bulbous plants with generally white or greenish flowers in racemes. Mainly distributed in the Mediterranean and Western Asia.
Lycoris
Lycoris
Massonia
Massonia
Genus of the family Asparagaceae (subfamily Scilloideae, formerly Hyacinthaceae), endemic to southern Africa, mainly in the Cape region. Stemless bulbous plants with only two opposite basal leaves and a central inflorescence of tubular or plumed flowers. Dedicated to the botanist Francis Masson.
Maximowiczia
Maximowiczia
Genus of the family Cucurbitaceae currently considered synonymous with Ibervillea. Includes geophytic vines with pronounced tubers or caudex, native to Mexico and the southwestern USA. The species produce small fruits and are prized in caudex collections. The name honours the Russian botanist Carl Maximowicz.
Modecca
Modecca
Genus of the family Passifloraceae, currently considered a synonym of Adenia. Modecca species are climbing or caudiciform plants from southern and tropical Africa, prized by collectors for their tuberous bases or large caudices and their ornamental flowers.
Momordica
Momordica
Genus of the family Cucurbitaceae with approximately 60 species distributed across Africa, Asia, and Australia. Includes food species such as bitter melon (M. charantia) and caudiciform collector species such as M. rostrata. Caudiciform species develop large fusiform tuberous roots or tubers that allow them to survive in arid and semi-arid zones.
Monella
Monella
Historical genus of the family Amaryllidaceae, currently referred to Gastronema or Cyrtanthus. Monella spiralis is a bulbous plant from southern Africa with spiralling leaves, flowering after late-summer rains. The name was proposed by Herb. but has not been widely accepted as an independent genus in modern taxonomy.
Monothylaceum
Monothylaceum
Historical genus of the family Amaryllidaceae, described by G. Don in 1835, currently considered a synonym of Haemanthus. Monothylaceum gordonii corresponds to Haemanthus coccineus, known as the October lily or blood flower, a winter-growing bulbous plant from the Cape of Good Hope with showy scarlet inflorescences.
Monsonia
Monsonia
Genus of the family Geraniaceae that includes succulent species with a caudex or thickened roots, native to southern and eastern Africa. Geranium relatives with adaptations to aridity.
Muscari
Muscari
Myrmecodia
Myrmecodia
Genus of the family Rubiaceae comprising epiphytic plants with a hypertrophied base full of chambers inhabited by ants (myrmecophytism). Native to the Australasian tropics, from Malaysia to the Pacific. The relationship with ants is mutualistic: ants fertilize the plant with their waste and protect it from herbivores.
Nerine
Nerine
Nolina
Nolina
Genus of plants in the family Asparagaceae (subfamily Nolinoideae) distributed in southwestern North America (Mexico, southwestern United States). They are grass-like plants with long, fibrous leaves in rosettes or tufts arising from a basal caudex or short trunk. Unlike Beaucarnea (with which they share the subfamily Nolinoideae), Nolina have more woody, less swollen caudiciform bases. They adapt to arid, semi-arid, and high mountain conditions. Important for the wildlife of their ecosystems: birds and bats pollinate their flowers on long spikes.
Operculicarya
Operculicarya
Genus of the family Anacardiaceae endemic to Madagascar, comprising trees and shrubs with a thickened or pachycaul trunk highly valued in horticulture as bonsai or caudiciform plants. Small deciduous leaves, tiny flowers, dioecious.
Ornithogalum
Ornithogalum
Genus of the family Asparagaceae (subfamily Scilloideae) with bulbs that in several species remain exposed above the soil, forming highly ornamental structures. Native to Africa, the Mediterranean and western Asia.
Ornithoglossum
Ornithoglossum
Small genus of bulbous plants belonging to the family Colchicaceae, native to southern Africa. Its flowers have reflexed petals that reveal prominent anthers, resembling a bird with outstretched wings (ornitho = bird, glossum = tongue). Species are highly toxic due to their content of colchicine and related alkaloids.
Otidia
Otidia
Oxalis
Oxalis
Pachypodium
Pachypodium
Pancratium
Pancratium
Genus of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae native to the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, and southwest Asia. They produce striking white flowers with a corona and reflexed tepals, strongly scented, on robust scapes. Salt and wind tolerant, common on coastal dunes and beaches.
Paschanthus
Paschanthus
Genus of caudex-forming climbing plants in Passifloraceae, native to southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Northern Cape). They bear a swollen basal caudex, tendril-climbing stems, and smaller passion-flower-like blooms. Extremely drought-tolerant; allied to Adenia and Modecca.
Pelargonium
Pelargonium
Phaedranassa
Phaedranassa
Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus
Genus of caudiciform plants in the family Phyllanthaceae, represented in elite collections by P. mirabilis from arid Mexico, whose immense grey papery-barked caudex makes it one of the most prized caudiciform plants in the world.
Polianthes
Polianthes
Genus of Mexican bulbous geophytes in the family Asparagaceae, related to Agave and tuberose (P. tuberosa, famous worldwide for its fragrance); includes little-known wild species endemic to Mexico. Some classifications (Thiede 2001, APG IV) include these species in Agave sensu lato.
Proiphys
Proiphys
Genus of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae distributed across Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and the Pacific. Produces umbels of large white flowers with a corona, similar in appearance to the Mediterranean Pancratium. Previously included in Pancratium, Proiphys species were segregated into their own genus based on molecular and tropical morphological characteristics.
Pseudobravoa
Pseudobravoa
Genus of bulbous plants in the family Asparagaceae, native to Mexico. Pseudobravoa comprises geophytes with robust bulbs and showy tubular reddish inflorescences, closely related to Bravoa and Polianthes. It grows in xerophytic scrub and dry forests at mid elevations.
Pterodiscus
Pterodiscus
Pyrenacantha
Pyrenacantha
Genus of lianas and climbing shrubs in the family Icacinaceae, distributed mainly in tropical and eastern Africa. They are dioecious plants with simple leaves and small flowers, notable for their enormous basal tuberous caudex that can reach impressive dimensions in mature individuals. The caudex acts as a water and nutrient storage organ, allowing survival during prolonged droughts. Highly valued in caudiciform plant collections for the monumentality of the caudex and the rarity of the genus.
Raphanistrocarpus
Raphanistrocarpus
Genus of caudiciform climbing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, endemic mainly to Madagascar. They develop a prominent woody basal caudex that allows them to survive prolonged seasonal drought. Species produce twining stems, rough or lobed leaves, and fruits resembling small radishes (hence the name). They are of great horticultural interest for their combination of ornamental caudex and climbing habit.
Raphanocarpus
Raphanocarpus
Genus closely related to Raphanistrocarpus within the family Cucurbitaceae, distributed from Madagascar to southern Africa (Namibia). Raphanocarpus species feature prominent basal tubers or caudices, seasonal twining or prostrate stems, and fleshy fruits. They share with Raphanistrocarpus the geophytic strategy of water storage in thickened underground organs, making them notable in collections of succulent and caudiciform plants.