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Fressia sp.
They are herbaceous plants which grow from a corm 1-2.5 cm in diameter, which sends up a tuft of narrow leaves 10-30 cm long and a branched stem with few branches and slightly longer with a few leaves and and a loose one-sided spike of fragrant flowers funnel shaped flowers. The bud stage is like a rainbow on this species. The mature flowers are a bright deep orange with six petals. Long stamens. Long slender leaves.
Open meadows among other plants. Bright sun. Central Plateau in Madagascar. They are a genus of 14-16 species of flowering plants in the family Iridacea, native to Africa. 12 are native to South Africa and the remaining two are native to tropical Africa. They are popular garden plants around the world.
Fressias are used as food plants by some larvae of Lepidoptera, including Large Yellow Underwing. Now that I have returned to Oregon I discovered the same species growing in my front yard and near a small lake near a beach access. What a surprise! This part of the Oregon Coast usually doesn't have a cold winter, so many tropical plants grow here. The flowers and plants are 1/3 the size of the Madagascar plant.
Spotted on Mar 18, 2011
Submitted on Apr 28, 2011
5 Comments
Sorry it was of no help :)
I looked up Watsonia and there are some similarities, but the this plant wasn't as large and the blooms were not close together. I looked on Arkive. Thanks, though, NicoleLook.
These are gorgeous pictures. Could this be Watsonia.
I love the colours, so striking.
beautiful as a bud...great colors & nice shots.