Moraea schlechteri

Moraea schlechteri, previously Homeria schlechteri, is a deciduous herb growing its annual above-ground parts from a perennial corm to heights around 20 cm.

The strap-shaped leaves are broadly channelled, tapering to long, acutely pointed tips. They curve out and sheathe the stem at the base, becoming about as long as or longer than the stems, as those in picture have done. Leaf colour is deep green to yellow-green.

The species is distributed in Namaqualand in the west of the Northern Cape. The photo was taken north of Springbok on the way to Steinkopf.

The plants grow on sandy flats. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).