Spotted African cornlily

Ixia maculata L. is a perennial herb in the Iridaceae family, commonly called the spotted African cornlily. It is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa but has been introduced and naturalized in several regions, including Western Australia, the United States, and parts of Europe and Asia. The plant features an erect, unbranched stem and a few twisted basal leaves up to 35 cm in length. Its inflorescence is a dense spike containing up to 12 flowers, which are typically orange to yellow, sometimes with purple or red areas and often spotted. Cultivated varieties show a range of color variations due to horticultural selection. Ixia maculata is widely grown as an ornamental plant.