The rare and endangered Moraeas of the Western Cape Province, South Africa

The genus Moraea is a member of the Family Iridaceae and has an entirely African distribution, concentrated in the Western Cape Province and adjacent Namaqualand of South Africa. The genus contains some of the most attractive of all South African spring-flowering irids, many of which are now rare and endangered in their natural habitat in the Western Cape, due mainly to habitat destruction for agricultural purposes. Many of these rare and endangered species are easily cultivated and have horticultural potential as container subjects.