Commonly known as Blue Tulp, the Moraea elliotii with its blue-violet iris-like flowers grows in moist and stony grassland throughout the eastern parts of South Africa, from parts of the Western Cape through to Mpumalanga. They differ from the irises they resemble by having corms, whereas irises usually have rhizomatous roots. Here is one of many poking its beautiful flower above the surrounding grasses. You can just make out its channelled leaves.
The flowers can easily be initially mistaken for irises as they have three larger outer petals and three smaller upright inner petals.
The prominent yellow patches on the outer petals have the special function of attracting pollinators.
Flowers do not last long. I first saw these blooming in the grass verge on the edge of town late one afternoon and when I returned the following day to photograph them, several had already wilted – although new buds were ready to unfurl.
Seen from the side, the flowers look like this:
The central petals of the newly opened flowers are folded over at first; other – perhaps older – flowers had one or two of these petals in a more upright position.
Something Over Tea 
That is lovely – so delicate. Love the Moraea family with their Iris like blooms.
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I am always enchanted when I come across them blooming in the veld.
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Pretty! I would have definitely mistaken it for iris.
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It is easy to do so in passing. Perhaps we have the advantage knowing that irises as such do not grow in the wild here.
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lovely
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Thank you.
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The corms is a helpful detail
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It might be if you were intending to plant them. The public is discouraged from removing flowers from the wild – all too often they do not transplant well in any case.
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Stunning colours and forms.
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They are very eye-catching in grassy areas.
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Another of our stunning wildflowers that wouldn’t be out-of-place in the fanciest of gardens. Thank you for the cheerful splash of colour just before bedtime, Anne!
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We need an injection of cheerfulness now and then!
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Thrice daily at least!
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A pretty flower.
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They are very delicate flowers.
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love the colours and details ..
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Thank you very much. I was thrilled to come across them growing next to the road just outside of our town.
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