Moraea vegeta L.

Plants (100-)150-300 mm high, usually several branched. Corm 10-20 mm diam.; tunics of fine, pale fibres. Stem several-branched, finely velvety. Leaves several, basal and cauline, ± linear, lower exceeding stem, often trailing distally, channelled, glaucous, progressively shorter above. Rhipidial spathes green, apices sometimes brown, inner 20-40 mm long, outer ± 2/3 as long. Flowers fugaceous, dull yellow to light brown, flushed with blue or purple, outer tepal limbs with yellow nectar guides at bases; outer tepals 20-25 mm long, limbs up to 18 mm long, lanceolate, weakly reflexed, inner slightly smaller, also weakly reflexed. Filaments 5-6 mm long, united in lower 1/3; anthers 3-4 mm long, blue; pollen yellow or blue. Ovary ± ovoid, ± 4 mm long, exserted, style branches 7-8 mm long, crests 7-10 mm long, lanceolate. Capsules ± globose, soft walled, showing outline of seeds, pendent when mature, ± 12 x 8 mm. Seeds round to angular.