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 micrandra is a South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province where it can be found growing from Houw Hoek to Kleinmond and De Hoop. It grows from 25cm to 50cm tall forming a slender plant. During spring it bears white to pink flowers.