Two-leaved Cape Tulip

Moraea miniata

Scientific name

The yellow star-shaped nectar guide on the tepals are sometimes covered in scattered dark spots. These marks, the six-pointed yellow star and also the tepal colouring show considerable variability across the rather large distribution.
Note how the inner tepals are smaller. Some species have nectar guides only on the outer three tepals. It has two or three linear leaves, usually salmon flowers, but sometimes yellow or white and is minutely speckled in the centre. It is poisonous and has a number of ways of spreading (by cormlets in the leaf axils sometimes).

Propagation instructions

By seed

¨Two leaf cape tulip does not produce viable seed. Each year a large number of small cormels are produced in each leaf axil and around developing corms at the base of the plant¨.