Crisp Tulp

Moraea gawleri

The plant is a slender wiry-stemmed and branching, bearing two or three leaves, sometimes with crinkly margins and less than 5 mm wide. Including the flowering-stem, the plant reaches 15 cm to 45 cm in height. The flower colour is variable. It may be yellow, cream, orange or brick-red. The erect style branches are conspicuous above the tepals. The style is sometimes the same colour as the tepals, but may be white on (differently) coloured tepals. Dark brown, narrow rings may surround the nectar guide markings on the outer tepals, as in the picture. Straight, outward radiating veins are present on the tepals. Flowers open in mid-morning and last till mid-afternoon of the same day.