New plant named after vuvuzela

NewsCore

July 11, 2010 8:53pm

A NEWLY-discovered iris plant has been named after South Africa's vuvuzela as a lasting memory of the World Cup.

The distinctive horn polarised soccer fans and TV viewers with some claiming it captures the unique spirit of the event, while others complained it ruined their enjoyment of the tournament.

The plant, "Moraea vuvuzela" is described on the website of the South African National Biodiversity Institute as having colourful, flared yellow flowers whose "massed, synchronous appearance" had appropriate associations with the horn's name.

Dr Tanya Abrahamse said the suggestion came from a retired staff member.

"And the rest, as they say, is history."

The iris grows naturally only in South Africa's Western Cape and is under threat from agricultural development.