The genus Ixia consists of a number of cormous plants native to South Africa from the Iridaceae family and Ixioideae subfamily. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include: sword-like leaves, and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers well-drained soil. They have a specific but not very intense fragrance of vegetables. That is why it is often visited by many insects such as bees.

Ixia acaulis, is an endangered South African endemic species found in the Western Cape province in the Knersvlakte. It occurs in succulent karoo shrubland, in rock crevices or wedged between boulders on limestone ridges. During winter it produces eye-catching bright yellow flowers.