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 thomasiae is a South African endemic species from the Northern Cape Province where it can be found growing on the Central Roggeveld Escarpment west of Middelpos on heavy clay soils on valley floors. This robust Ixia grows to 70cm tall. It bears Dierama-like pink flowers.