Herbarium specimens indicate that Moraea aristata is a northern Cape Peninsula endemic. It was recorded adjacent to Table Mountain between the present day Cape Town CBD and suburb of Rondebosch. Like sister species in the Peacock Moraea group, it prefers heavier soils and would have been found growing on Peninsula Shale Renosterveld, and likely also in nearby similar vegetation types.
It is that wonderful time again, when the intense red orchid Disa uniflora (Red Disa or Pride of Table Mountain) come into bloom. There is no South African flower that shouts ‘summer’ to me more than this. They grow on stream banks, next to waterfalls and on wet shady precipitous cliffs from the Cape Peninsula eastwards to Bredasdorp in the Overberg and northwards to the Cederberg. The genus is named after Queen Disa, a character from Swedish mythology who according to legend presented herself to the King of Sveas wearing only a fishing net.
The genus Protea is one of the most well-known and charismatic of the Cape Floristic Region’s (CFR) Fynbos Biome. The King Protea (Protea cynaroides) is South Africa’s national flower. Members of the genus are exported as cut flowers all over the world, prized for their beauty, diversity and longevity. They are often depicted in artwork and are popular garden plants. Members of the genus are also known as Sugarbushes.
As the festive season draws closer, consumers are turning their attention to Christmas shopping for their loved ones. The quest for finding the perfect gift can sometimes be a challenging one – Why not consider a green gift? In South Africa we are lucky enough to live in a megadiverse country with some of the world’s richest biodiversity. So why not buy a Christmas gift that supports conservation action and raises awareness of what is on our doorstep? Here we offer up some green gift ideas that are local, sustainable, support conservation and encourage people to get out and experience the beauty of South Africa’s natural world.
There are many stories of species only just holding on against extinction. One that stands out is that of Moraea aristata. This enigmatic Irid has long been admired. First described in the mid-18th Century by colonial botanical explorers, it quickly found its way into European collections, many of which still persist today. Historical records indicate this Peacock Moraea has always been a narrow endemic. Its natural distribution is the flats adjacent to Table Mountain, between present day Cape Town CBD and Rondebosch.
The Indigenous Bulb Society of South Africa (IBSA) will be holding its three day symposium this August 2017 at Goudini Spa near Worcester. Read more here about this upcoming event in celebration of South Africa’s rich and species diverse geophyte flora.