Moraea macronyx flower

The fragrant, short-lived flowers of Moraea macronyx grow solitary, enclosed at the base in a pair of leaf-like, hairy bracts.

The tepals are mostly deep yellow, occasionally with some or much white. Flower diameter is about 5 cm. The outer three tepals have nectar guides with variable markings, sometimes in brown spots at the base of their short and broad upper parts that are bent down. The lower tepal parts are angled up claws, narrow and dull in colour.

The specific name, macronyx, may refer to these large-clawed tepals.

The three whitish style branches above the corollas are erect around the flower centre, lance-shaped and split at the top into paired petal-like crests with acutely pointed tips. The style branches are about 2,5 cm long.

Flowering happens in spring until after midspring (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist; https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org).