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 tempskyana, commonly known as Tempsky’s Sand Crocus, is exotic to South Africa, is present in the island of Cyprus, also the Aegean Islands, Turkey and Palestine. Flowering occurs from November till April when it produces cheery eye-catching purple blooms.