Tricolour Harlequin Flower - introduced (*Sparaxis tricolor)

Family: Iridaceae (Iris family).

Native of the South Africa.

Occurrence: Uncommon. Usually growing from garden refuse. This weed can form large colonies.

Identification:

• the flowers are three-coloured - yellow, black, orange
• the flower has six "petals"
• the leaves are grass-like and grow in a flat bundle (see illustration on the right).

It can spread by means of seed, corms or bulbils. The bulbils are produced in the leaf axils, so mowing may cause the spread of this weed. It may also be spread by deliberate planting, or from garden refuse. The colours of the flowers are variable.

Photos all: Tricolour Harlequin Flower. Werona.