File:Strumaria phonolithica inflorescence.jpg

English: Inflorescence of a cultivated specimen of Strumaria phonolithica (family Amaryllidaceae) in a terra cotta pot plunged in a rockery bed in the Davies Alpine House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. An attractive bulbous species, not very common in cultivation. The curious specific name refers to its penchant for growing in phonolite gravel in its native South Africa. Phonolite ( Greek for ‘sounding rock’ ) is a variety of igneous rock noted for emitting bell-like notes when struck with a hard object. For this reason, phonolite outcrops have at times been used as lithophones - naturally-occurring musical instruments, of a sort.