Definition

Noun: 1. A spectacular flowering plant (Homeria or Moraea species) native to South Africa, characterized by large, prostrate leaves often marked with reddish-purple, and flowers featuring a prominent cluster of long yellow stamens set within a coral-red cup formed by fleshy bracts.

Usage Notes

• "Cape tulip" is a common name, not a botanical one. It refers specifically to plants in the genus (or some classified under ) that are indigenous to the Cape region of South Africa.
• It is used as a singular countable noun (e.g., ) and in the plural form (e.g., ).
• This term is primarily used in horticultural, botanical, and descriptive contexts.

Examples

• The cape tulip is considered an invasive weed in parts of Australia.
• We added several cape tulips to the rock garden for a splash of color.
• The distinctive feature of the cape tulip is the striking contrast between its yellow stamens and coral-red bracts.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe related things.
  • The cape tulip bulbs were planted in autumn.
• In botanical writing, the scientific name is often provided for clarity.
  • The cape tulip (Homeria miniata) is toxic to livestock.

Variants and Related Words

• "One-leaf cape tulip": A common name for , a specific species.
• "Two-leaf cape tulip": A common name for , another specific species.
• Iridaceae: The plant family (the iris family) to which the cape tulip belongs.

Synonyms

• Moraea (scientific genus name)
• Homeria (alternative scientific genus name)

Note: There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this botanical term.

Noun

1. spectacular plant having large prostrate leaves barred in reddish-purple and flowers with a clump of long yellow stamens in a coral-red cup of fleshy bracts; South Africa