Hesperantha petitiana

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 8-30 cm high. It is similar to Hesperantha baurii. The corms are 7-12 mm across. There are 3-4 leaves. They are 2-6 mm wide. The flowering spike has 2-6 flowers. They are pink, light purple or white. The fruit is a capsule 10-15 mm long.

Possibly edible. Plants can have different numbers of chromosomes.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in highland areas. It grows in rocky sites above 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Geissorhiza alpina Hook. f.; Hesperantha alpina (Hook.f.) Pax ex Engl.; Hesperantha kilimanjarica Rendle; Hesperantha petitiana var. uniflora Hochst. ex Baker; Hesperantha petitiana var. volkensii (Harms) R. C. Foster; Hesperantha uniflora Hochst. ex A. Rich.; Ixia hochstetteriana A. Rich.; Ixia petitiana A. Rich.;