Botanical name

Aristea capitata

Family

Iridaceae

Common Name

Blue Sceptre, Blousuurkanol, Blouvuurpyl

Synonym (old name)

Aristea major
Aristea capitata
Aristea capitata
Aristea capitata
Aristea capitata
Aristea capitata
Aristea capitata

Description

Rhizomatous geophyte up to 1.5m with stiff rounded stems. Leaves are strap-like and up to 20mm wide. Bright blue flowers are arranged spirally in a long spike, tepals 12-16mm long, flower clusters overlapping; bracts lanceolate, brown or papery. Old flower stems remain for months after flowering turning a rich brown colour.

In the genus Aristea each flower lasts only one day but new flowers appear successively over a period of days or weeks.

Habitat

Mountain slopes

Flower Date

October to December