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 pygmaea, commonly known as Pygmy Polyxena and synonymously known as Hyacinthus bifolius, Massonia violacea, Polyanthes pygmaea or Polyxena pygmaea, is a widespread and locally abundant South African endemic perennial flowering geophyte found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. In Namaqualand, it occurs in the Kamiesberg and south of Garies. In the southern Cape, it occurs in De Hoop Nature Reserve, around Stilbaai, and on the northern foothills of the Anysberg in the Little Karoo. It occurs in a variety of seasonally moist habitats, including shallow gravelly soils on granite rock sheets, clay soils on lower north-facing slopes, deep sand and limestone outcrops near the coast. During autumn this dwarf plant produces striking purple flowers.