Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Botterblom, Ferweelblom, Harlequin flower

Family: Iridaceae (Iris)

Distribution: Western Cape

Habitat: Seasonally wet sandy flats or slopes, sometimes wet clay soils

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Geophyte (bulb, corm or tuber - seasonally dormant)

Comments: This is a widespread and common Cape bulb which can be found growing on seasonally wet sandy or sometimes clay soils. It is distributed from Darling to Aghulhas. It has white or cream-coloured unscented flowers with light yellow centers, sometimes with a dark spot at the base of the tepal. Although this species is not threatened at the moment, it is experiencing a lot of habitat loss due to the ongoing urban development of the Cape Flats and coastal development in the Betty's Bay and Aghulhas areas. Fortunately this bulb seems to handle disturbance quite well and has been found to produce lovely mass flowerings even when it experienced severe disturbance.