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 brunneobractea is a South African endemic species found in the Northern Cape province’s Bokkeveld Escarpment growing on sandstone fynbos that are seasonally wet or marshy places in deep sandy soils. From late winter to late spring it produces light mauve to blue flowers.