Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Sparaxis grandiflora

Other Names

Wandflower, Sparaxis

Family

Iridaceae

Flowering season

April to June

English distribution

It is found mainly on the Isles of Scilly.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

– Plain Harlequinflower

Habitat

It is a neophyte which was imported from South Africa

into the Isles of Scilly and grown in the bulb fields.

It now grows as an escape on waste ground, verges,

and walls and as a relic plant in old bulb fields.

Description

Plain Harlequinflower is a perennial cormous herb growing

up to 45cm.

The flowers have a short perianth tube formed from the

6 tepals. 

The perianth lobes are usually striped red and white

and up to 3cm. 

Some are entirely red. The lobes are yellow in the centre

of the corolla.

There are 3 white stamens.

The style is erect with 3 spreading linear branches.

The bracts are brown, streaked and pointed.

The leaves grow from the base.