Geissorhiza splendidissima

Geissorhiza splendidissima is a perennial geophyte growing annually from a corm the size of a pea. Striking bright blue flowers with dark centres are produced. 

The plant is endemic to the plateau of the Bokkeveld Mountains near Nieuwoudtville, a small distribution in the southwest of the Northern Cape.

The habitat is renosterveld flats where the plants grow in clay or shale soils. The species is considered to be vulnerable in its habitat early in the twenty first century due to crop cultivation and stock farming.

Several of the Geissorhiza species participate in the spring pageant of flowers launched by winter rain (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).