Stem 30-60 cm tall, usually unbranched. Leaves 5-8, 3-12 mm wide. Flowers 4-14 in a dense 2 sided spike. Spathe jagged, streaked and tipped rust-red. Perianth bowlshaped, golden yellow with black centre and often shaded red externally; tube 5-8 mm long; segments oval, blunt, 18-28 mm long; spring. Stamens fused at base.

Cape Province, S Africa.

I. lutea Eckl. From Cape Province, S Africa has stems 20-45 cm tall, usually unbranched. Leaves 4-6, to 15 mm wide, often spirally twisted. Flowers 4-10 in a short crowded spike. Spathe tipped dark red. Perianth red to purple or pale yellow with dark brown, violet or black centre; tube 6-12 mm long; segments oval, blunt, 16-30 mm long; spring. Syn. I. conferta R. Foster.

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.