Moraea simplex

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales > Family: Iridaceae > Genus: Moraea

Distribution and habitat

Limited to the moist clay flats at the eastern foot of the Piketberg Mountains, Western Cape, South Africa.

Phenology

Flowering has been recorded from mid to late September, but probably extends to mid October.

Origin of name

simplex in Latin means "unadorned, plain" and refers to the pale-coloured flowers without markings, the spreading tepals more-or-less equal in length, and the filiform style branches without style crests (Goldblatt & Manning, 2004).

Publications

• Goldblatt P, Manning JC. 2004.  New species of Ixia (Crocoideae) and Moraea (Iridoideae), and taxonomic notes on some other African Iridaceae. Novon 14: 288-298. jstor