Geissorhiza radians or winecup flower is a highly threatened species from the Iris family with fewer than 10 remaining sub-populations growing in south-western Cape Town, South Africa.[1] The deep purple flowers with large, red centres grow is dense colonies which makes for a spectacular flower displays from mid-September, particularly around the town of Darling. Its seasonally wet lowlands habitat is however becoming increasingly threatened with more than 80% of its original habitat now permanently transformed into agriculture or urban sprawl and the remaining populations threatened by encroaching invasive alien vegetation and fertilizer runoff. The dark-centred flowers aim to attract specific pollinators from the horsefly family (Tabanidae), but the specific interactions still require additional investigation. Each plant has 1 to 6 flowers. It is also found in smaller patches through to Gordon's Bay. The plants nearly always occur in seasonally moist wetlands which become dry in the summer months.[2]
| Geissorhiza radians | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Geissorhiza |
| Species: | G. radians
|
| Binomial name | |
| Geissorhiza radians Goldblatt
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Geissorhiza rochensis var. rochensis | |
Growing edit
The plant normally starts to flower after 3 years after being planted, they can be grown from a pot or lawn if sufficient moisture is provided. It might be hard to buy this plant since it is rare.[3]
References edit
- ^ "Geissorhiza radians in Tropicos".
- ^ "Geissorhiza radians | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ "Geissorhiza radians | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
External links edit
- Raimondo, D.; Helme, N.A. (2012). "Geissorhiza radians - Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09. (Thunb.) Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Geissorhiza radians". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
Media related to Geissorhiza radians at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Geissorhiza radians at Wikispecies
