African iris

Dietes bicolor (African iris)

It took some persistent poking around on Google, but I finally identified these graceful flowers as Dietes bicolor, or African iris. They initially caught my eye because of the triangular shape and dark spots.

Each flower lasts only a day, but is quickly replaced by another. Bloom bursts seem to come at 2-week intervals — hence the name fortnight lily [Sunset Western Garden Book, 1988 edition].

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