Bartram Ixia

BARTRAM’S IXIA, Calydorea coelestina (Bartr.) Goldblatt & Henrich.

Family IRIDACEAE (Iris Family).

William Bartram described Ixea caelestina calling it his “Purple Flower’d Ixia of St Johns River Et Florida.” According to Francis Harper, William Bartram found his Ixia near the shore of Lake Dexter, Volusia County, Florida, while traveling with his father John Bartram in spring 1766.

Known today only from certain five northeastern counties of Florida, and one possible locality in Camden County, in southern Georgia. Today it is considered a very rare plant, and listed by the state of Florida as Endangered. Bartram’s Ixia grows in wet to moist slash or longleaf pine flatwoods, flowering mostly in mid-April to mid-June, particularly after fires. Individual flowers open at sunrise and last about three hours. Plants are otherwise nearly invisible without their showy purple flowers