Geissorhiza is a large genus of around 84 perennial species, of small to medium corm bearing plants in the Iridaceae family found in the winter rainfall region of the south and west coasts of southern Africa. Many of them make very handsome container plants and benefit from extra water during growth. The name Geissorhiza is derived from the Greek words geisson and rhiza which mean tile and root respectively. This is in reference to a tunic which covers the corms like a roof tile. The bulb-like structure is used as a storage organ during the dormant period. It is closely related to the genus Hesperantha, the main difference being that most Hesperantha are night bloomers.

Geissorhiza fourcadei, commonly known as Black Satin is a South African endemic montane species found in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces where it is found from the Great Swartberg between Swartberg Pass and Meiringspoort, and on the Kammanassie Mountains and the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains, from Robinson’s Pass to Witte Els Berg. It occurs in stony sandstone ground, evidently in damp situations, including seeps and stream banks in mountain fynbos. Growing from 12 to 30 cm tall, this species has narrow grass-like leaves and large pink to mauve flowers, always one to a branch. Plants flower from late summer to autumn during the months of March, April and May.