Moraea Species, Blue-Eyed Moraea, Peacock Iris

Found this info on the Pacific Bulb Society web page. The link is: ...Read MoreciesOne" target="_dgnew"rel="nofollow">http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/MoraeaSp...



Moraea aristata is an endangered species in South Africa where it survives only in a small protected area near Cape Town. It is white with dark blue nectar guides sometimes outlined in another color. It had been an easy plant to grow in Northern California where it multiplied rapidly. Photo 1 was taken by Bob Rutemoeller and photos 2-3 were taken by Mary Sue Ittner. The second shows a number in bloom in March 2005 where there were almost 100 blooms. Photo 3 photo shows the speckled back of the flower. Since that time the population has dwindled. Photos 4-6 were taken by Nhu Nguyen of the same clone as in the first three photos. Photo 6 shows a 'blue trio' of M. aristata, Gladiolus gracilis and Tecophilaea cyanocrocus.
Moraea aristata, Bob RutemoellerMoraea aristata, Mary Sue IttnerMoraea aristata, Mary Sue IttnerMoraea aristata, Nhu NguyenMoraea aristata, Nhu NguyenMoraea aristata, Nhu Nguyen
More photos of this plant. The first was taken by Lee Poulsen in March 2004, and the last two by Arnold Trachtenberg of flowers from BX bulbs donated by Bob Werra and grown under HID lights. Photo 4 by Jacob Knecht shows a macro close-up image of the peacock eye.
Moraea aristata, Lee PoulsenMoraea aristata, Arnold TrachtenbergMoraea aristata, Arnold TrachtenbergMoraea aristata, Jacob Knecht