Cypella is a genus in the Iridaceae with about 15 species native from Mexico to Argentina. Species in this genus have scaly bulbs and sword-shaped leaves with yellow, blue, or purple flowers. There are species that some consider to be in this genus and others include in the genus Hesperoxiphion.
Cypella aquatilis is found in Brazil in areas periodically innundated. Photos by Germán Roitman
Cypella armosa is found in Argentina and Paraguay in areas periodically innundated. Photo by Bill Dijk
Cypella coelestis (syn. Phalocallis coelestis, Cypella plumbea), from Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina is probably grown more often than any of them and under many different names. It flowers in summer. The first photo was taken by Bob Rutemoeller, the second by Susan Hayek for Diana Chapman. The third photo below taken August 2003 by Lee Poulsen of his plant which he received named as Cypella plumbea platensis. Finally the last photo below
was taken at the end of June '05 by Merrill Jensen at the Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, Palo Alto, California. 
Cypella exilis, photos by Germán Roitman. From Argentina, growing in grasslands, flowering in summer. Similar to Cypella armosa, the flowers are pale yellow and are found in more western places than C. armosa. It's possible that they are both the same species.
Cypella hauthalii ssp hauthalii, photos by Germán Roitman. From Argentina, very short stems, growing in grasslands, flowering in spring. The flowers are bigger, more open, and violet.
Cypella hauthalii ssp opalina is from Argentina with very short stems, growing in grasslands, flowering in spring. The first two photos were taken by Germán Roitman, the next two by Dirk Wallace, and the last with this comment: Just too gorgeous to ignore! This winter-growing species enjoys semi-shaded conditions. Photo by Rogan Roth.
Cypella herbertii from Argentina and Uruguay, the most widespread and common species of Cypella, 50cm to 1,2 m tall, in grasslands and hills. At least 3 sub species can be distinguished:
C. herbertii ssp. herbertii Photo by Germán Roitman. The flowers can be yellow or orange; the stigma lobes are long.
Cypella herbertii ssp. brevicristata, the more common sub species, flowers yellow or orange; the stigma lobes are short. The first photo was taken by Germán Roitman and the second by Lee Poulsen in August 2003 who commented: I think mine are of this subspecies. They are easy to grow, and mine just keeps blooming all summer long.
Cypella herbertii ssp. wolffhuegeli, with a very restricted distribution, flower is pale yellow and the style branches are free in the upper part. Photo by Germán Roitman
Cypella laeta, photos by Germán Roitman, from Argentina and recently cited in Uruguay, growing in well drained grasslands, flowering spring. Cypella laeta, C. aquatilis and C. laxa belong to the same subgenus (Nais).
Cypella laxa, photo by Germán Roitman, from Brazil and Paraguay and recently cited in Argentina, growing in bog areas, flowering summer
Cypella osteniana Photos by Susan Hayek for Diana Chapman.
Cypella osteniana subsp. osteniana, photo by Germán Roitman, from west of Uruguay, flowering in spring, flowers are white, the stigmas lobes are divergent.
Cypella osteniana subsp. aurantiaca subsp. nov., photos by Germán Roitman, from Brazil, east of Uruguay and Argentina, flowers are orange, the stigma lobes and concrescent.
Published in Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. 38: 33-339. 2004.
Here you can see both subspecies together:
Cypella pabstiana, photos by Germán Roitman, from Brazil, and recently found in Argentina growing in wet grasslands, flowering in spring.
Cypella peruviana is one of the Cypellas that is considered to be Hesperoxiphion peruvianum by some. We have included pictures of it on the Hesperoxiphion wiki page.
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