About Ixia monadelpha D.Delaroche
Ixia monadelpha, commonly called pied kalossie or bontkalossie, is an endangered geophyte species. It is endemic to a narrow strip along the Atlantic Coast of the Western Cape, South Africa. Currently, this species grows between Darling in the West Coast region and Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula; historically, its range extended as far as Hopefield and Tulbagh. It is now restricted to between four and six fragmented subpopulations, most of which are located around Darling. The largest known subpopulation grows on Rondebosch Common in Cape Town. Ixia monadelpha inhabits seasonally wet sandy flats and lower slopes. This species is insect-pollinated. Its characteristic dark flower center is typical for species pollinated by monkey beetles, and it has been recorded being visited by two monkey beetle species: Peritrichia cinerea and Lepithrix fulvipes. Ixia monadelpha is often found growing alongside Ixia curta, an orange Ixia species that also has fused filaments, but differs from Ixia monadelpha in other morphological features.
