Romulea bulbocodium

Bulbous perennial of the Iridaceae family, widely spread in the Mediterranean basin, from the Iberian Peninsula to Turkey and North Africa. It reaches its northwestern distribution limit in the southwest of France, where it can be observed in the Landes, at the edge of pine forests on the acidic sandy soils characteristic of this region.

It is very small in size, rarely exceeding 5 to 8 cm in height above the ground. The leaves are fine, cylindrical, and hollow, of a bright green, emerging at ground level among grasses and pine litter. The corm is small, wrapped in fibrous tunics.

The flower, solitary, opens in a spread funnel with six tepals, of a lilac to pinkish-violet more or less intense, with a very marked yellow-orange throat, the most immediately recognizable sign of the species. It only fully opens in sufficient light and closes as soon as it diminishes, a typical behavior of the genus. In its natural habitat, flowering extends from February to April depending on latitude. Observation at the edge of Landes pine forest, in filtered semi-shade, shows that the species can accommodate less sunny conditions than generally described.

In cultivation, it is traditionally recommended in full sun, very well-drained soil and dry in summer, with protection against excessive winter humidity. It is grown in a pot under cold shelter or in a sunny rock garden in regions with mild winters.