Lachenalia, which belongs to the Hyacinthaceae family, is a genus of bulbous plants from southern Africa. The genus consists of nearly 130 species, most of which are quite short in stature with only a few exceeding 15cm. Many have large, eye-catching and ornamental flowers in an assortment of colours ranging from sea-green or blue to rich red and clear bright pink, often accompanied by attractively marked leaves. A handful of species are found in Namibia, but most are South African endemics with the greatest diversity found in the Western Cape. The genus name Lachenalia commemorates the Swiss botanist Prof. Werner de Lachenal (1739-1800) who was stationed at the University of Basel during the late 18th century. Propagation from seed is easy and straightforward and they are well suited to rockeries and being grown in pots.

Lachenalia anguinea, commonly known as Viooltjie in Afrikaans and Snake Leaved Lachenalia in English, is a South African endemic species found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. This species is widespread across western South Africa, from the Richtersveld and western Namaqualand to the Olifants River Valley in the Western Cape. One distinguishing feature is that it only has one leaf; the leaf is lanceolate, banded green, and maroon. Flowers are bell-shaped, cream with green markings on long pedicels with well-exserted anthers. This species is found in deep coastal sands and grows from 10 to 35 cm high.