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 tenuifolia, synonymously known as Ixia framesii, is a rare and endangered South African endemic species found in the Western Cape from Malmesbury to Darling and Kalbaskraal growing amongst fynbos on seasonally moist loamy flats. During spring it bears gorgeous orange/red flowers with dark centers.