Neomarica is a genus of South and Central American plants in the Iridaceae family that have a rhizomatous rootstock. The genus was established in 1928 and includes plants previously known as Marica and Galanthea. In Brazil the native name used for these plants is Marica. There is a strong relationship to Cipura, Cypella and Trimezia. The same species therefore may have been listed at one time under any of these genera. The main difference between Neomarica and Trimezia is that the axis ("stem") is flat in Neomarica and round in Trimezia. The sexual parts are identical. Most of the species need warm conditions and high humidity to thrive and ample water during their flowering season. They grow in shade in subtropical areas in the wild. They come from regions where the soils are extremely well drained (they can also be found in a thick layer of forest debris). Such soils are red, acid, high in iron and aluminum and notoriously low in "normal" nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, etc.
Neomarica caerulea is native to Brazil, a large evergreen plant with bright sky-blue or bluish-lilac short-lived flowers. Given warm conditions and regular water, it is long blooming. If grown in a pot, it needs a very deep one and protection from snails. It grows in full sun or shade. Photos by Tarcísio Eduardo Raduenz.
Neomarica candida grows in the forest in the region of Blumenau, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. Photos by Tarcísio Eduardo Raduenz.
Neomarica gracilis is from Mexico and Costa Rica south to Brazil. This species is sometimes called the "walking iris" but this name may also be used for some of the other species. It has short lived ivory flowers with reddish-brown transverse bars on the claw. The inner segments are smaller with reflexed tips and blue. It blooms in summer and appreciates shade. It has leaves with prominent veins and a stem that is forked below the apex. It It is distinguished from other white flowered species, bearing its flowers on long (gracile) peduncles, (the stems connecting the whole flowering business to the scape) and pedicels (the individual flower stems) – many times longer than the enveloping bract. The diagram was provided by Mauro Peixto.
Neomarica northiana is from Brazil and has white flowers becoming yellowish with brown markings at the base. Inner segments are recurved and marked bluish-purple. Leaves are fan-like, and flat. The stem is flattened and continues above the inflorescence as a leaf-like bract. Young plants form at the tip bending over and rooting giving it a common name of Walking Iris. It is easily confused with Neomarica candida, which is only half the size (40-80 cm) and whose tepals are not yellowish at the base. Photos by David Ehrlich of plant obtained from Yucca-Do.
Neomarica sp. Photos by Tarcísio Eduardo Raduenz. Although the flowers on this plant resemble N. caerulea the fruits are different. The fruit of Neomarica caerulea and Neomarica candida open longitudinally when mature. The fruit of Neomarica sp. opens only in the superior extremity.
Much of this information supplied by members of the PBS list in November 2006.
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