Geissorhiza radians

Geissorhiza radians
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Genus:	Geissorhiza
Species:	G. radians
Binomial name
Geissorhiza radians Goldblatt
Synonyms
Geissorhiza rochensis var. rochensis

Geissorhiza radians or winecup flower is a highly threatened species from the Iris family with fewer than 10 remaining sub-populations growing in south-western Cape Town, South Africa.^[1] The deep purple flowers with large, red centres grow is dense colonies which makes for a spectacular flower displays from mid-September, particularly around the town of Darling. Its seasonally wet lowlands habitat is however becoming increasingly threatened with more than 80% of its original habitat now permanently transformed into agriculture or urban sprawl and the remaining populations threatened by encroaching invasive alien vegetation and fertilizer runoff. The dark-centred flowers aim to attract specific pollinators from the horsefly family (Tabanidae), but the specific interactions still require additional investigation. Each plant has 1 to 6 flowers. It is also found in smaller patches through to Gordon's Bay. The plants nearly always occur in seasonally moist wetlands which become dry in the summer months.^[2]

The plant normally starts to flower after 3 years after being planted, they can be grown from a pot or lawn if sufficient moisture is provided. It might be hard to buy this plant since it is rare.^[3]

• Raimondo, D.; Helme, N.A. (2012). "Geissorhiza radians - Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09. (Thunb.) Goldblatt. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
• Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Geissorhiza radians". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
• Media related to Geissorhiza radians at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Geissorhiza radians at Wikispecies