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 bachmannii, synonymously known as Lachenalia brevipes and commonly known as Vernal Pool Viooltjie, is a rare and endangered South African endemic perennial flowering geophyte found in the Western Cape province from Piketberg to Stellenbosch growing in lowland flats, on edges of vernal pools on clays. Blooming in early spring (August-September), plants grow from 14 to 42 cm tall with white bell-shaped flowers with brown to maroon gibbosities. Plants have two linear leaves with the lower surface plain or suffused maroon.