Moraea tripetala flower

This picture of Moraea tripetala taken in September in the De Hoop Nature Reserve on the southern Cape coast, shows some clearer flower features than those already posted.

The outer tepals have pointed tips but are not as acute as sometimes seen. The nectar guides are white here, without the dark spots. The central part of the corolla is dark blue with a T-shape and does not have equal angles among the tepals. The corolla colouring is quite different to what is commonly seen, but the plant is known for its wide range of flower colours. The lobes of the outer tepals have faint, straight veins radiating from the base to the margins.

The plant grows here in sandy coastal soil, but also thrives in clayey ground (Manning, 2007; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).