Leaf 2-4 mm wide, hairless, grey-green. Stem 25-40 cm tall, usually unbranched. Flowers 3-4, white; early spring. Outer segments almost horizontal, 30-35 mm long, to 25 mm wide, each with a large indigo spot edged black. Inner segments with 3 narrow lobes 15-20 mm long, white, indigo-speckled. Style branches indigo with long triangular crests. Syn. M. glaucopis (DC.) Drapiez; M. pavonia hort. non Ker Gawl.; M. villosa hort. non Ker Gawl.

Capetown (extinct in wild).

M. gigandra L. Bolus from the Coastal Cape has leaves 3-6 mm wide, hairless. Stem 20-40 cm tall, hairy, usually unbranched. Flowers 2, blue-purple, rarely white or orange; outer perianth segments 30-45 mm long, horizontal, to 35 mm wide with bright blue signals in a narrow band at base; inner perianth segments 9-15 mm long with 2 short lateral lobes and a long, slender, spreading central point; spring. Anthers 13-15 mm long, far exceeding the style crests. Style branches to 6 mm long with short crests.

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.