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 curta is a South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province where it can be found growing from Darling to Malmesbury. It was previously known as Morphixia curta. It is usually encountered in fynbos on slopes and flats. It grows from 15cm to 40cm tall and in spring it bears bright orange flowers with brown/green centres.