Stem 30-65 cm tall with 1-2 branches. Leaves 3-5, 4-7 mm wide. Flowers 6-15 in a loose 2 sided spike. Spathe translucent, pale pink. Perianth pale pink to lavender; tube 5-6 mm long; segments oblong, blunt, 12-18 mm long, often with purple midlines; spring.

Cape Province, S Africa.

I. campanulata Houttyn, Red Ixia from Cape Province has stems 25-35 cm tall, usually unbranched. Leaves 5-10, 3-5 mm wide with thickened margins. Flowers 4-10 in short crowded spike, bell-shaped. Spathe translucent white to pale pink. Perianth carmine-red with white band or white suffused with red; tube 2-3 mm long; segments oblong, blunt, 15-25 mm long; late spring. Syn. I. speciosa Andr.

I. polystachya L. is a similar plant with perianth tube 7-14 mm long.

Source: Cooke, D. (2005). Iridaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.