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 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 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 two by Bob Werra illustrate how hairy this one can be. Flowers are short lived.
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 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. Photo taken by Cameron McMaster in the Overberg.
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. Photo by Bob Werra.
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 .
Photos by Cameron McMaster
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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