About Ixia viridiflora Lam.
Ixia viridiflora, commonly called turquoise ixia, is a tall species in the genus Ixia, native to the area around Tulbagh in Cape Province, South Africa. It grows from small underground corms, and is a very rare member of the corn lily group. Its natural habitats are frequently destroyed by human activity, so its conservation status is classified as vulnerable, and its population trend is decreasing. Its common name turquoise ixia comes from its unusual blue-green turquoise flower color, which is rare among flowers. The flowers are arranged in long inflorescences, and are typically star-shaped like the flowers of most other corn lilies. Each flower has a black-purple center, and a 3-locular ovary. This species is pollinated by a specific group of scarab beetles: monkey beetles belonging to the tribe Hopliini. While turquoise ixia has desirable ornamental characteristics, it is rarely cultivated because of its vulnerable conservation status.
