Massonia is a genus in the family Asparagaceae. It was named for Francis Masson, a Scottish student gardener at Kew, sent to the Cape by Sir Joseph Banks in 1772 to collect seeds. Plants can be found in dry areas in southern Africa. Species have two prostrate or spreading leaves and a head-like inflorescence at ground level with large and leafy bracts and tubular flowers with the filaments shortly joined together at the base.
Growing Conditions and General Care
Most species are winter growers, summer dormant, and bloom early, often in late fall to early winter. Seeds are formed in a 3-angled (papery) capsule, which, as it dries, elongates, easily lifts out, or is detached to disperse the seeds.
Summer dormant plants will come out of dormancy on their own in the fall, even when water is not given. Massonia species have perennial roots, but they are not as picky about losing them as Amaryllidaceae. Repotting can be done any time, but probably best right before they come into growth. A dry dormancy is required.

Massonias are easily grown from seeds. Sow the seeds right before the growing season and cover them with a thin layer of medium. Seeds will germinate in 2 to 3 weeks. First-year seedlings make a single cylindrical leaf, and each progressive year, the leaf gets bigger until two leaves per bulb appear. Community pots of seedlings increase each year, and the leaves can soon become crowded. Eventually, they need to be transferred to one bulb per container unless the container is large and can accommodate the leaves' spread without overlapping too much.
Source: pacificbulbsociety.org
Links
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