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infestation (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
habit growing in a mown area (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
strap-like leaves (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
the very colourful flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
close-up of orange flowers with yellow centres and stamens (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
flowers from side-on (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
apricot-coloured flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
dark red and pale orange flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
pinkish-coloured flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Scientific Name
Sparaxis tricolor (Schneev.) Ker Gawl.
Note: the distinction between Sparaxis pillansii and Sparaxis tricolor in Australia is not clear. Either one or both of these species, as well as hybrid cultivars, may be present in naturalised populations. For the purpose of this publication, these plants will all be treated as Sparaxis tricolor.
Synonyms
Ixia tricolor Schneev.Sparaxis pillansii L. Bolus
Family
Iridaceae
Common Names
harlequin flower, Jack Spratts, sparaxis, tricolor harlequin flower, tricolor harlequin-flower, velvet flower, wand flower, wandflower
Origin
Native to south-western Africa (i.e. Cape Province in South Africa).
Naturalised Distribution
Widely naturalised in southern Australia (i.e. in the coastal districts of central New South Wales, in many parts of Victoria, in south-eastern South Australia and in south-western Western Australia).
Also naturalised overseas in south-western USA (i.e. California).
Notes
Tricolor harlequin flower (Sparaxis tricolor) is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.