Xenoscapa is a genus in the Iridaceae family related to Freesia and Crocosmia. There are two species, both in the southern African winter rainfall areas. Plants are small and grow from pea sized corms.
Xenoscapa fistulosa (Spreng. ex Klatt) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, syn. Anomatheca fistulosa, is widespread, extending from southern Namibia and Namaqualand through the western Karoo into the Little Karoo. The small plants (3 to 20 cm high) grow on seasonally damp clay or granitic soils on south facing slopes that are often shaded. Leaves lie flat on the ground and flowers are small, white, fragrant, and remain open at night. Flowering is in early spring. The first photo of the flowers taken in habitat in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve and the second of leaves at Van Ryns Pass in the Northern Cape by Andrew Harvie. The next two photos taken by Cameron McMaster in 2011 near Middelpos in the Roggeveld. The last photo from the book Plants of the Klein Karoo courtesy of Jan and Anne Lise Schutte-Vlok.
Xenoscapa uliginosa Goldblatt & J.C.Manning is endemic to the Kamiesberg in Namaqualand. It has long tubed pink flowers that are pollinated by the long proboscid fly.