Moraea speciosa - Karee Rivier Tanqua Karoo
Moraea speciosa is an attractive bulb with often spirally twisted leaves that occurs naturally in the Tanqua Karoo. They also grow in the Prince Albert district and possibly other places in the Great Karoo.
The Tanqua Karoo is a dry hot semi-desert and the areas where the bulbs grow often have very sparse vegetation. It is a winter grower.
These desert bulbs are smallish with decorative medium sized bluish flowers.
 |
Moraea speciosa in gravelly clay at Karee Rivier.
Flowering time is in winter in the Tanqua Karoo and later in the Prince Albert district.
 |
A cultivated plant in flower.
References:
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/MoraeaSpeciesEight
The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs. By John C. Manning, Peter Goldblatt, and Dee Snijman