One-Leaf Cape Tulip

Moraea flaccida

Alternative Name(s): Homeria flaccida

Family: Iridaceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of South Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: On branched stems. Flowers with 6 petal-like perianth segments, segments 2.6–4 cm long, not joined to each other; yellow forms have been found in WA. Flowers spring when 2 or 3 years old.

Description: Perennial herb to 70 cm high. Corms 1–4 cm wide, developing new corms each year. Leaf folded, ribbed, linear, to 1 m long, extended and drooping above the flowers. Angular red brown seeds, about 2 mm long, in narrow-cylindrical capsules 2.5–5 cm long, splitting from the apex into 3 parts.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by fibrous-sheathed corm at the base of the plant, orange to salmon pink flowers that are yellow in the centre; single leaves and presence of seed in capsules.

Dispersal: Spread by seed and movement of corms. Often in hay cut from infested paddocks.

Confused With: Two-Leaf Cape Tulip, Moraea miniata, which produces bulbils (small deciduous bulbs) at the leaf nodes, does not produce seed, has 2 or 3 leaves and has a scaly covering around the corm.