Moraea polystachya

Moraea polystachya, the bloutulp or Karoo iris is a bane to stock farmers in a large part of the inland centre of South Africa. Common in Karoo scrub and the central grassland. Not endemic to South Africa, it is also found in Namibia and Botswana.

Resilience allows the plant to thrive in a variety of climatic and environmental conditions, flowering even in brackish and limestone soils and in marshy spots. Degraded veld may be invaded by M. polystachya. The bulbs of bloutulp will remain dormant for long periods in adverse conditions, only to appear in blue flower abundance after rain.

Farmers often wish to be rid of the Karoo iris, due to its toxicity that sometimes causes stock losses. This is, however, easier said than done (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Vahrmeijer, 1981; iNaturalist).