| Geissorhiza radians | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Geissorhiza |
| Species: | G. radians |
| Binomial name | |
| Geissorhiza radians Goldblatt | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Geissorhiza rochensis var. rochensis | |
Geissorhiza radians or winecup flower is a highly threatened species from the Iris family with fewer than 10 remaining sub-populations growing in south-western Cape Town, South Africa. The deep purple flowers with large, red centres grow is dense colonies which makes for a spectacular flower displays from mid-September, particularly around the town of Darling. Its seasonally wet lowlands habitat is however becoming increasingly threatened with more than 80% of its original habitat now permanently transformed into agriculture or urban sprawl and the remaining populations threatened by encroaching invasive alien vegetation and fertilizer runoff. The dark-centred flowers aim to attract specific pollinators from the horsefly family (Tabanidae), but the specific interactions still require additional investigation. Each plant has 1 to 6 flowers. It is also found in smaller patches through to Gordon's Bay. The plants nearly always occur in seasonally moist wetlands which become dry in the summer months.
Growing
The plant normally starts to flower after 3 years after being planted, they can be grown from a pot or lawn if sufficient moisture is provided. It might be hard to buy this plant since it is rare.
References
- "Geissorhiza radians in Tropicos".
- "Geissorhiza radians | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- "Geissorhiza radians | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
External links
- Raimondo, D.; Helme, N.A. (2012). "Geissorhiza radians - Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09. (Thunb.) Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Geissorhiza radians". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
Media related to Geissorhiza radians at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Geissorhiza radians at Wikispecies
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Geissorhiza radians | |