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 canaliculata, commonly known as Groovy Viooltjie, is a widespread and common South African endemic perennial flowering geophyte found in the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces, ranging from the Bokkeveld Escarpment at Nieuwoudtville to Carnarvon, the Roggeveld Escarpment and Uniondale, often growing amongst fynbos, on dolerite flats, among the margins of seasonally inundated depressions, as well as rocky ridges and dolerite outcrops. Growing from 15 to 45 cm high, it has 1-2 dark green spreading to suberect lanceolate leaves, sometimes marked with magenta spots on the lower surface. The inflorescence is spicate and the scape green with darker green or maroon blotches. The flowers are oblong campanulate, arranged in 3-flowered whorls, cream to white with brown to green gibbosities. Flowering occurs from mid-winter to mid-spring.