Moraea viscaria is the type species of the genus of Moraea in the family Iridaceae that is named after the sticky secretion on the stem and branches.

Moraea viscaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Moraea
Species:
M. viscaria
Binomial name
Moraea viscaria

It is a cormous geophyte 20 – 45 cm in height with white flowers. The outer tepals are 15 – 23 mm long and inner tepals 14 – 20 mm long. The flower is sweetly scented and pollen bright red. The stem is branched and sticky, dry at flowering. It flowers from October to December.

Its habitat is reported as sandy or stony flats in the Western Cape between Saldanha in the west and Cape Agulhas in the east.

References

edit

Goldblatt: The Moraeas of Southern Africa. Annals of Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardent Vol.14 CTP Book Printers Cape 1986. ISBN 0-620-09974-7