About Nemastylis geminiflora Nutt.
Nemastylis geminiflora Nutt. typically grows to 30 centimetres (12 inches) tall, and may sometimes grow taller. Its stems grow from a bulb that sits deep in the ground. Each stem is clasped by 1 to 4 narrow, linear leaves. The leaves are long and narrow, reaching up to 11 centimetres (4 inches) wide. They are folded lengthwise near the base, pleated along the veins, and flat near the top. The flowers are 6.5 centimetres (2.6 inches) long, shaped like a star with 6 pointed blue-violet or blue petals and sepals. One or two flowers emerge from a common spathe, also called a sheath. Each flower only lives for one day: it opens in the late morning and closes by mid-afternoon. This species is native to the U.S. states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. It grows in limestone glades, prairies, and rocky slopes. Nemastylis geminiflora is pollinated by bees, flies, and other insects that collect nectar from its flowers. Its flowers appear in April and May.
