Origin and Habitat: Southern Cape coastal areas of South Africa to KwaZulu-Natal, where it also extends inland to the foothills of the Drakensberg, and widespread northwards into tropical East Africa.
Altitude (min/max): 0/300 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: Ornithogalum caudatumSN|19751]]SN|19751]] grows in warm moist habitats comprising Forest, Fynbos, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Savanna. This bulbs is often found in forest, forest margins, closed woodland and sheltered rock ledges. It is a widespread and common species that is not threatened. The population trend is stable.

• Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
• Fenelonia bracteata (Thunb.) Raf.
• Ornithogalum bracteatum Thunb.

• Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
• Fenelonia bracteata (Thunb.) Raf.
• Ornithogalum bracteatum Thunb.
• Ornithogalum caudatum Aiton
• Eliokarmos caudatum (Aiton) Raf.
• Loncomelos caudatum (Aiton) Dostal
• Urophyllon caudatum (Aiton) Salisb.
• Ornithogalum caudatum f. compact Kowie River
• Ornithogalum longibracteatum Jacq.
• Stellarioides longibracteata (Jacq.) Speta
• Ornithogalum massonii J.F.Gmel.
• Ornithogalum scilloides Jacq.
• Ornithogalum sessiliflorum Desf.
• Urginea mouretii Battandier & Trab.

Description: Albuca bracteataSN|19749]]SN|19749]], formerly known as Ornithogalum caudatumSN|19751]]SN|19751]], is a peculiar bulbous plant often found among the collection of succulent fanciers, because of the green opalescent, exposed bulb with curious little bulblets that form on the bulb layers, causing 'pregnant' looking bumps until the layer sloughs off to reveal the bulblets. Inflorescences are spikes 70-90 cm tall, capped by small white fragrant flowers with green, central stripes, often produced in different seasons. This bulb is better-known in cultivation as "Pregnant Onions" or "False Sea Onion" and is used as a houseplant.
Habit: Ornithogalum caudatumSN|19751]]SN|19751]] it is a rather curious bulbous plant and looks very similar to an onion. It a classic cryptophyte (with bulb-like stem) that dies back during the dry period of the Mediterranean climate.
Bulbs: Sitting partially on top of the ground and cluster-forming, globose to ovoid, that and will reach 3-8 (-10) cm in diameter, smooth, tunics succulent, opalescent, pale apple-green, withering grey, exposing green live tissue. When larger produce bulbils on their sides. The pedicels of the numerous bulbils are unite with one another and with the face of the sheath of the succeding leaf.
Roots: White, terete, succulent.
Leaves: 5–8(-12) synanthous (with flowers and leaves appearing at the same time), rosulate, bases sheathing, strap-like and tapering to a slender point, ascending to curving, semi-succulent, flaccid, channelled, growing very long under ideal circumstances (20-)30-60(-100) cm in length, 20-50 mm broad low down. The leaves wither from the apex and droop.
Inflorescence (raceme): Peduncle (scape), terete, erect, moderately stout, stiffly erect, 45-90 cm long. Pedicels ascending, the lower about 5 mm long (lengthening to 15-18 mm in fruit); bracts subulate-setaceous (filiform), from a broadening lanceolate base, the lower 12-40 mm long, projecting beyond the buds. Raceme moderately dense, 15-30 cm long. There may be as many as 50 to 100(-300) flowers per stalk.
Flowers: Small, fragrant, white, with green, central stripes. Perianth stellate, white 8-12 mm long; segments (tepals) oblong, linear-elliptic, to 9 mm long 2.5 mm broad, white, with a distinct green keel. Stamens 3/4 the length of the perianth; filaments alternately lanceolate and quadrate at the base; style 3-4 mm long. Ovary globose.
Fruit (capsule): Globose to ovate trigonous, to10 mm long 6 mm in diameter.
Seeds: Oblong, angular, 4 x 1.5 mm, not crowded nor compressed .
Blooming Time: Usually flower from May to August.
Chromosome number: Albuca bracteataSN|19749]]SN|19749]] occours in different cytotypes 2n=54, 52.

Notes: This plant is also known as the "Pregnant Onion". The pregnant part is owed to its strange distinction of producing babies on the bulb scales that are visible as small bumps on the surface. To show off the ‘pregnancies,’ occasionally remove the papery outer layers and drying leaves.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) J. G. Baker. “Flora of Tropical Africa”, Vol 7, page 421, 1898.
2) J. G. Baker. “Flora Capensis” page 253, 1897.
3) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons” Springer Science & Business Media, 06 December 2012
4) Müller-Doblies, U. and Müller-Doblies, D. “Revisionula incompleta Ornithogalorum Austro-Africanorum (Hyacinthaceae).” Feddes Repertorium 107(5-6):361-548. 1996.
5) Obermeyer, A.A. ”Ornithogalum: a revision of the southern African species.” Bothalia 12(3):323-376. 1978.
6) von Staden, L. Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2015.1. Accessed on 2015/12/06 2012.
7) Thomas C. Fuller, Elizabeth May McClintock “Poisonous Plants of California” University of California Press, 1986
8) Agnes Arber, Arber “Monocotyledons: A Morphological Study” Cambridge University Press, 31 October 2010
9) New Botanist, Volume 15, Page 61, Today & Tomorrow's Printers & Publishers., 1988
10) Liberty Hyde Bailey “The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture”, Volume 2 Macmillan, 1935
11) Seán A. O'Hara “Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) Mann. & Goldbl.” gardening in mediterranean climates worldwide "Retrieved 5 December 2015", from <http://www.gimcw.org/plants/Albuca.bracteata.cfm>
12) H. C. Vogel “The nature doctor: a manual of traditional and complementary medicine” Instant Improvement Inc., 01 January 1994
13) Crouch & Symmonds “Toxicity ? fact or fancy ?” Plantlife 20: 27-29, 1999.
14) African Plants Database (version 3.4.0). Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, "Retrieved 5 December 2015", from <http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/>.
15) Liepina, J. “False Sea Onion.” Zvaigzne ABC.

Cultivation and Propagation: Albuca bracteataSN|19749]]SN|19749]] is an easy and adaptable plant to grow and it is well suited for containers growing happily in a pot for many years. It makes a good but odd houseplant or specimen. The albucas are increased naturally by the new bulbs. In general, they are plants of easy culture.
Exposure: Prefers some direct sun but will scorch in hot, sunny, dry locations.
Soil: In the greenhouse, use a suffice cactus soil with some peat (a soil that retains water yet drains well).
Waterings: The plants are allowed to dry slightly in-between waterings. If the plants are allowed to dry too much, they will go dormant. The bulbs rest , leafless, during the dry summers of the Mediterranean climate, but can rest at any time of the year when water is suspended.
Overwintering: During the winter months, the plants are allowed to go dormant and are stored in the cold storage until spring. Temperature: Reportedly hardy down to -5°C.
Ethnobotanical/Economic Uses: Its crushed leaves when used as a poultice are an effective remedy for a number of ailments; for example, wrap around the neck to alleviate headaches and sore throats; for rheumatism apply to the painful areas and said to have healing effects similar to aloe vera. They are also efficacious in cases of blood poisoning, suppurations and serious insect stings. Also used as cooked syrup with rock candy against colds.
Warning: Most parts of the plant are considered highly toxic. Contact dermatitis from the juicy sap can also be a problem for some people. The size and attractiveness of the little bulblets may pose a choking danger to children. In east Africa tribal groups recognized the toxicity of this plant.
Propagation: Division, seeds, offsets (bulbils). Produces somatic embryos (bulbils) on the bulb scale tissue, visible as small bumps (pregnancies) on the surface of overlying bulb scales in mature specimens. These eventually fall off when outer scale layers disintegrate or split. After being shed, these root easily and begin new plants, often congesting the original plant unless moved to a new location or, as is very common, given away to unsuspecting fellow gardeners.  For this reason, this plant is also a fun plant for grade-school projects.  Copious seed is also produced and germinate easily. It is best to propagate seeds in the spring through summer in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot and plant with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band to prevent the moisture from escaping. Place in indirect sunlight or under a fluorescent light. Repot in its regular mix after it has been growing for a while. After dividing plant or removing offsets, pot it in its regular potting mix.