Sparaxis tricolor

Sparaxis tricolor, commonly known as the harlequin flower and in Afrikaans as the fluweeltjie (little velvet), is a cormous perennial that is summer deciduous with annual above-ground growth. It reaches heights of 10 cm to 30 cm. The sword-shaped leaves with prominent midribs are arranged in a fan.

The radially symmetrical flowers have corolla cups yellow in the base, fringed black variably, and then orange-red in the spreading to ascending tepal lobes that end in rounded tips. This is the three colour flower appearance referred to in the specific name, tricolor. Flower diameter is up to 4 cm. The three style branches can be seen above the flower centre in picture. The larger yellow anthers curve in around them. Bloomtime is spring to after midspring.  

The species distribution in the Northern Cape is small, restricted to the Bokkeveld Plateau near Nieuwoudtville.

The habitat is stony places of shale renosterveld and sandstone fynbos where it is damp in the plant’s growing season. The plants are often wedged among rocks. The habitat population is deemed vulnerable early in the twenty first century.

The species has escaped into California and Australian countrysides from introduction in gardens (Manning, 2009; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iNaturalist; iSpot; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).