Dilatris is an evergreen genus in the Haemodoraceae family growing from a short red rhizome. The four species are endemic to the Cape Floral region of South Africa with most species found in the southwestern portion on rocky sandstone slopes. It flowers best after a fire. The majority of the species have mauve flowers that are distinguished by details of the stamens. The three stamens are inserted at the base of the tepals; one stamen is shorter and erect with a larger yellow anther and the other two are more or less spreading, with smaller, reddish anthers. They grow best with year round water and acidic sandy soil.
Dilatris corymbosa P.J.Bergius is found on damp sandy slopes and flats in the Western Cape. It is often seen after fire in the Western Cape mountains. Growing 40-60 cm high, it flowers from August to January. The flowers are mauve in a flat-topped cluster with hairy lanceolate tepals. Stamens are about as long as the tepals and the large anther more than twice as long as the smaller. The first four photos from iNaturalist were taken by Tony Rebelo in November in the Western Cape and shared under aCC BY-SA license. The last photo of the flowers with monkey beetles was taken by Bernhard Frauenknecht at Bains Kloof December 2023.
Dilatris ixioides Lamarck is a widespread species that occurs from the Bokkeveld Mountains to George where it grows on rocky sandstone slopes and flowers September to February. Growing from 20 to 50 cm, plants have a soft hairy whitish flowering stem and mauve flowers in a flat topped cluster. Stamens are well exserted, much longer than the tepals. The fruiting capsule is topped with a conspicuous papery perianth that fragments to release the single seed. Photos from the book Plants of the Klein Karoo courtesy of Jan and Anne Lise Schutte-Vlok.
Dilatris pillansii W. F. Barker is found on rocky sandstone slopes from the Cedarberg Mountains to Agulhas. Growing from 20 to 45 cm high, plants have a whitish hairy stem, linear oblong leaves and mauve flowers in a rounded cluster. Stamens are included or scarcely exserted; longer stamens are much shorter than the tepals. Plants flower August to January. The fruiting capsule is topped with a conspicuous papery perianth that fragments to release the single seed. Photos by Cameron McMaster taken in the Overberg. The last photo was taken by Christopher Whitehouse.
