Moraea fugax Seeds - Indigenous Endemic Edible Perennial Bulb - Combined Shipping - New

The genus Moraea belongs to the Iridaceae family and is a close relative of the genus Iris. It is accepted that it evolved independently from Iris itself, which is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, it is strictly an African genus extending from Nigeria and southern Ethiopia, into the African highlands down to the southern tip of Africa where winter rainfall is predominant. Many are indigenous to South Africa. It is in the winter rainfall area where one finds the highest concentration of Moraea species. They have long narrow basal leaves, sometimes only one per corm and large yellow, pink, orange, or bicolor flowers with six fairly equal tepals.

The genus name is a tribute to the English botanist Robert Moore. Moraeas have iris-like flowers. They make good potted plants and are suitable rockery plants too. Most enjoy well-drained soil and full sun to flower best.

Moraea fugax is a South African endemic species from the Northern Cape and Western Cape. It is found from Namaqualand southwards to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards across the southern Cape as far as Swellendam. It is most predominant in Fynbos where it can be found growing in deep sandy soils on flats near the coast, in strandveld and sandveld vegetation. It is distinguished by having a beaked ovary and leaf or leaves inserted high on the stem. The fugacious flowers open near midday and close around sunset. Flowers are beautiful, strongly scented, bright blue-purple & yellow and appear in spring. The corms of Moraea fugax, formerly known as Moraea edulis, are edible and are known to have been eaten by the indigenous peoples of southern Africa. The seeds are best sown during autumn.