Moræa (more a)

[NL. (Linnæus, 1767), named after Johannes Moræus, father-in-law of Linnæus.] A genus of plants of the order Iri- deæ, type of the tribe Moraeæ. It is distinguished by the petaloid winged branches of the style, and by the perianth being completely divided to its base. About 40 species are known, natives of tropical and southern Africa, Australia, and the Mascarene Islands. They are bulbous plants or grow from a short rootstock, with long narrow upright leaves, and several or many handsome fragrant flowers, blue, purple, yellow, or variously colored. Some species produce edible bulbs, and many from the Cape of Good Hope are cultivated for ornament, among them M. pap i lion ace a, the butterfly-iris.