Moraea huttonii
Common name
butterfly iris
Synonyms
Dietes huttonii; Moraea baurii; Moraea rivularis
Family
Iridaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Monocots
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
Evergreen perennial, with corms; leaves 60-120 cm, somewhat lax, undersurfaces dull, slightly grey-green and different from the shiny green of upper surfaces, marked mid-rib, leaf edges slightly rolled; flower stems erect, branched. The flowers are iris-like, yellow, with three larger outer petals with brown ‘eyes’ and nectar guides, and three smaller upright inner petals. Dry capsules shed winged seeds that disperse by wind or water.
Flowering
Oct-Nov (in NZ)
Flower colours
Brown, Yellow
Fruiting
Capsules with winged seeds
Life cycle
Self-established seedlings in driveway, up to 13 m from solitary planted specimen (Whanganui, Dec 2018)
Propagation technique
Seed or division
Year naturalised
2018
Origin
South Africa
Reason for introduction
Ornamental