Auction held to name new Iris species

Fauna & Flora International and the Overberg Lowlands Conservation Trust are running an auction to name a newly discovered Iris species. The species was discovered by scientists from the Overberg Lowlands Conservation Trust 1 in November 2011, who were visiting two farms on South Africa’s Western Cape that are home to some of the last remaining patches of lowland renosterveld, a unique ecosystem with the highest diversity of bulbous plants in the world along with hundreds of species found nowhere else on earth.

The highest bidder will have the right to name the species and will also receive a painting and bronze casting of the flower. Proceeds from the auction will go to supporting the conservation of lowland renosterveld, which is now an endangered ecosystem.

The auction is currently open and will close at Fauna & Flora International’s Annual General Meeting at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Oct. 31. Those interested in bidding may do so at the website.

To place a bid, visit www.irisauction.com.