Romulea is a genus in the Iridaceae family of about 90 species that is found both in South Africa and in Europe. Rootstock is a corm, globose, bell shaped to top shaped, compressed or asymmetric with a circular to crescent shaped basal ridge. This genus has flowers reminiscent of Crocus. Many are quite striking, especially the South African species and there is a great variation in colour and markings of the flowers. They are easy to grow in pots and many are easy from seed, flowering rather quickly in some cases.

Romulea linaresii ssp. linaresii is exotic to South Africa occurring on the East Aegean Islands, Greece, Crete, Sicily, Tunisia, and Turkey. Growing from 5-10 cm tall it is similar to Romulea ramiflora but each bract has a membranous margin and the entire flower is deep violet. Flowering occurs from January till April.