Leliefontein

Leliefontein lies up in the Kamiesberg Mountains not far from Kamieskroon. These pictures were taken near Leliefontein, where the vegetation became thicker and more lush the further from Kliprand one travelled. White lilies were seen in the hundreds and the yellow cattails were also numerous in the area.

Situated some 18 miles from Kamieskroon in the Kamiesberg mountains, Leliefontein is a tiny village where some of its buildings, the Methodist Church and Parsonnage of the Mission station, are national monuments. The Mission station was established on a farm given to the Namaquas. The town is probably named after the many white Lilies found in the area and the Kamiesberg.

The botanical name isAndrocymbium ciliolatum of the genus Liliaceae, but are commonly called "Anthers-in-a-Boat" or "Bobbejaanskoen"  (baboon shoes) or "Patrysblom". Two pictures of them have been included. In the picture below, the small, insignificant yellow flowers can be seen at the very bottom of the plant. The white bracts are the most striking feature of the lily, and enclose the anthers. Scattered across the fields, the flowers can be mistaken for bits of discarded paper. ("anther - the apical portion of a stamen containing pollen".)