This member of the Iridaceae family was described by Peter Goldblatt in 1973. It is found in the Natal Province of South Africa and in Lesotho, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The bulb can grow to two centimetres, the plant to 25 centimetres height. The flowers are violet and yellow. 

The genera name is named after Johannes Moraeus; father-in-law of Linnaeus. The species name for the alpine settings.