Ferraria is a genus of perennial bulbous plants in the Iridaceae family found in southern tropical Africa to the southern Cape. Of 11 species, 7 are found in the Cape region of South Africa and others found in Namaqualand.

Ferraria variabilis, synonymously Ferraria antherosa or Ferraria divaricata subsp. australis and commonly known as Sheathing Spiderlily, is a South African indigenous species found in the Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape provinces, ranging from Southern Namibia and western South Africa from Namaqualand to Griekwastad and southwards through the Great Karoo and Tanqua Karoo to Worcester and the Little Karoo growing on shale flats, granite outcrops and deep sands. It is 6 to 20 cm tall, often branched just above the base. Leaves are sword shaped to linear, crowded basally, usually without midribs. Flowers last two to three days, are produced in spring and are mostly pale to dull yellow to pale to middle brown or dull grey blue. This is a very variable species.