Convergent Evolution of the 'Homeria' Flower Type in Six New Species of Moraea (Iridaceae-Irideae) in Southern Africa

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Abstract
Six new species of Moraea, all with similar small, pale to deep blue-purple flowers and reduced style branches instead of the broad petaloid style branches typical of the genus, are described from the southwest and interior west coast of southern Africa. This flower type, typical of the southern African Homeria, was previously known only in a few species of Moraea, notable sect. Polyanthes, and the flowers of the new species resemble especially those of M. crispa. However, of the new species only M. pseudospicata sp. nov. appears related to M. crispa. The others differ either in vegetative morphology, chromosome number, or in details of the flower, and the unusual flower seems to have evolved independently in at least three of them. Moraea graniticola sp. nov., M. hexaglottis sp. nov. and M. rigidifolia sp. nov. are each known from single populations in the southern Namib Desert of Namibia and are referred to sect. Moraea. Moraea worcesterensis sp. nov. known from one site near Worcester in the southwest Cape, is probably closely related to M. algoensis of sect. Vieusseuxia. Moraea deserticola sp. nov., restricted to the Knersvlakte in southern Namaqualand, is allied to M. speciosa of sect. Polyanthes.

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