Moraea papilionacea

Moraea papilionacea, the butterfly uintjie (nutgrass), is a cormous perennial growing stems that branch from the base and reaches heights from 10 cm to 20 cm.

The usually three or four grass-like, channelled leaves without midribs tend to trail and are often finely hairy.

The species distribution is in the Western Cape from the Cape Peninsula northwards to the Cederberg and Clanwilliam, eastwards as far as Bredasdorp. The photo was taken in the Biedouw Valley.

The habitat is renosterveld and dry fynbos where the plants grow in sandy or clayey soils on seasonally moist flats and slopes. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).