Syringodea is a genus endemic to South Africa in the Iridaceae family. It is very similar in appearance to the Eurasian genus Crocus and also has a stemless habit and long-tubed flowers. It is also similar to the genus Romulea. A distinguishing feature is that the ovaries are subterranean or just at the soil surface and the seed capsules remain there. It is found in both winter and summer rainfall areas and has flowers that are responsive to temperature, opening only on warm days. This genus was revised by Miriam P. de Vos in 1983. See References
Syringodea bifucata , syn. Syringodea bicolor is widely distributed in the northern and eastern Karoo, the Eastern Cape and to the Transvaal. It has a large corm with a pointed base and large long-tubed violet flowers with a yellow throat, filaments and style. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Syringodea concolor is found in the Great Karoo. It has pale violet to pale lilac to almost white long-tubed flowers that are darker violet in the throat and do not have a yellow throat. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Syringodea flanaganii is an Eastern Cape species with violet flowers and a yellow throat. It is very similar but smaller than S. bifucata. Photo by Cameron McMaster.
Syringodea longituba has blue-violet flowers with a white or yellow center and blooms fall to early winter. It grows on sandstone and shale flats and slopes in the winter rainfall area. Photo by Mark Mazer.
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