Moraea Species Three

The genus Moraea can be divided into five groups: Galaxia, Gynandriris, Hexaglottis and Homeria, and Moraea.
Moraea group species C-E are found on this wiki page.


Moraea index lists all the species in all five groups alphabetically.


The other species in the Moraea group are listed alphabetically on these wiki pages: Moraea group A - Moraea group B - 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 caeca grows on rocky sandstone slopes in fynbos in the northwest Cape. It has a single linear trailing leaf and mauve flowers. The tepals are unequal; the outer tepals have a small dark or yellow nectar guide. It blooms in spring. Photo by Alan Horstmann.

Moraea caeca, Alan Horstmann

Moraea calcicola grows on limestone hills in the southwest Cape and blooms in late winter early spring. It has mauve to purple flowers with dark blue nectar guides. The first two photos were taken by Bob Werra, the third by Jana Ulmer of the first bloom from Bob Werra seed in March 2005, and the last by Alan Horstmann.

Moraea calcicola, Bob Werra Moraea calcicola, Bob Werra Moraea calcicola, Bob Werra Moraea calcicola, Jana Ulmer Moraea calcicola, Alan Horstmann

Moraea ciliata grows on sandy and clay slopes in the winter rainfall areas. It can be blue or yellow or rarely white. The first photo below was taken by Mary Sue Ittner and the second by Michael Mace. The third and fourth, by Bob Werra, illustrate how hairy the foliage on this one can be. Flowers are short lived.

Moraea ciliata, Mary Sue Ittner Moraea ciliata, Michael Mace Moraea ciliata, Bob Werra Moraea ciliata, Bob Werra


Three photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller near Middelpos in the Roggeveld September 2006 show variations in color and leaves. A fourth by Mary Sue Ittner is of a yellow form photographed at the same time and place. A fifth was taken in Sutherland also in the Roggeveld by Cameron McMaster

Moraea ciliata, Bob Rutemoeller Moraea ciliata, Bob Rutemoeller Moraea ciliata, Bob Rutemoeller Moraea ciliata, Mary Sue Ittner Moraea ciliata, Cameron McMaster

Moraea cooperi is a rare plant found on rocky sandstone slopes and flats, often near water, in the southwestern and northwestern Cape. It has large yellow flowers delicately purple-veined with only three tepals united in a well developed tube. It flowers in spring. The first photo was taken by Cameron McMaster in the Overberg and the second by Rod Saunders. Photos three and four were taken between Bain's Kloof & Breerivier in the Western Cape by Andrew Harvie.

Moraea cooperi, Cameron McMaster Moraea cooperi, Rod SaundersMoraea cooperi, Andrew HarvieMoraea cooperi, Andrew Harvie

Moraea crispa is found in the Karoo and interior Cape mountains on clay or sandy flats and slopes. It has a single leaf and blue-mauve flowers a little larger than a US quarter with yellow to orange nectar guides. The flowers are unusual, looking like a pinwheel. They lack the paired erect crests found in many Moraeas. The flowers open late afternoon and only last a day, but the plant continues to send up new blooms for two weeks. I started with three 15 yrs. ago and have only one left. However, it has bloomed alone for the past 10 yrs. neglected, without fertilizer. It hasn't produced additional corms as so many other species do. The first photo by Bob Werra. The next two photos were taken in the Roggeveld by Andrew Harvie.

Moraea crispa, Bob WerraMoraea crispa, Roggeveld Mountains, Andrew HarvieMoraea crispa, Roggeveld Mountains, Andrew Harvie

Moraea elliotii is found on grassy sandstone slopes from Mossel Bay to Malawi. It has a single leaf and blue-violet flowers with yellow nectar guides. It flowers in spring. It sometimes has been confused in cultivation with Moraea setifolia. The first two photos taken by Cameron McMaster. The next three photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller at Gaika's Kop, January 2010. This area had burned previously.

Moraea elliotii, Cameron McMaster Moraea elliotii, Cameron McMasterMoraea elliotii, Gaika's Kop, Bob RutemoellerMoraea elliotii, Gaika's Kop, Bob RutemoellerMoraea elliotii, Gaika's Kop, Bob Rutemoeller

Galaxia - Gynandriris - Hexaglottis - Homeria A-J - Homeria K-Z - Moraea group A - Moraea group B - 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 index


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Page last modified on March 06, 2010, at 08:01 PM