Sparaxis villosa

Sparaxis villosa, commonly known as the hairy satinflower, in Afrikaans as the bloukappie (blue bonnet) and previously scientifically as Synnotia villosa, is a cormous perennial reaching heights from 12 cm to 35 cm. The corms are covered in coarsely fibrous tunics.

The short, broad, sword-shaped leaves grow in a closely set fan. They are finely veined and there are prominent midribs.

The species distribution is in the southwest of the Western Cape from the Cape Peninsula to Piketberg, Citrusdal, Tulbagh and Paarl.

The habitat is fynbos and renosterveld in granite-derived soils. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century, although it is decreasing due to farming activities and urban expansion (Manning, 2009; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).