Moraea is a genus in the Iridaceae family that taxonomists have expanded to include the former genera Barnardiella, Galaxia, Gynandriris, Hexaglottis, Homeria, and Roggeveldia. Most of the 195 species of Moraea are found in sub-Saharan Africa. 123 species are found in the Cape Floral Province of South Africa. Four of the former genera are now considered to be sections or groups of this genus along with group Moraea which contains the species that were formerly known as Moraea before the consolidation. Barnardiella is included in the Moraea group and Roggeveldia in the Hexaglottis group. We have added species information and pictures to the wiki on subgroup pages but have listed them on those wiki pages under their new names along with their old names if they have changed. More information can be learned from Peter Goldblatt's book on Moraeas and Manning, Goldblatt, Snijman, 2002.
Photos below illustrate species in the Galaxia, Gynandriris, Hexaglottis, and Homeria subgroups.
Photos below illustrate species in the Moraea subgroup.
To grow Moraea from seeds, sow them in a well drained mix and allow the plants to have temperature fluctuations of warm days and cool nights. Depending on the species, seeds can start sprouting anywhere between 3 weeks and staggered for 3 years (Dell Sherk). Moraea polystachya and Moraea villosa were reported to flower in 1-2 years (Mary Sue Ittner). Will Ashburner recorded germination and flowering time of 12 species where the first number is weeks to germination and the second is weeks to flowering. Moraea alticola (10, 118), Moraea bellendenii (5, 130), Moraea bubalina (5, 136), Moraea insolens (5, 129), Moraea macronyx (5, 120), Moraea moggii (29, 136), Moraea ramosissima (6, 130), Moraea serpentina (3, 130), Moraea spathulata (6, 135), Moraea thomsonii (6, 128), Moraea tricuspidata (5, 126), Moraea tripetala (3, 121-124).
Bob Werra gave a talk at the 2006 Indigenous Bulb Association of South Africa's symposium. The title of his talk was Mad about Moraeas. He discussed his experience growing this genus in Ukiah, California and passed out a sheet summarizing his experiences and rating the ones he grows. He has kindly allowed this summary to be added to the wiki.
More information about specific species can be found by accessing the wiki pages listed below or by clicking on the links for the species in the table.
Galaxia - Gynandriris - Hexaglottis - Homeria A-J - Homeria K-Z - Moraea group A - Moraea group B - Moraea group C-E - Moraea group F - Moraea group G-I - Moraea group J-M - Moraea group N-R - Moraea group S - Moraea group T - Moraea group U-V - Moraea Hybrids
Galaxia - Gynandriris - Hexaglottis - Homeria A-J - Homeria K-Z - Moraea group A - Moraea group B - Moraea group C-E - Moraea group F - Moraea group G-I - Moraea group J-M - Moraea group N-R - Moraea group S - Moraea group T - Moraea group U-V - Moraea Hybrids