The genus Moraea (Iridaceae) is a close relative of the genus Iris, and it is presumed that it evolved independently from Iris itself, which is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, it is truly an African genus ranging from Nigeria and southern Ethiopia, into the African highlands down to the southern tip of Africa where winter rainfall is prevalent. It is in the winter-rainfall area where one finds the highest concentration of Moraea species. Philip Miller’s publication of the genus, with the spelling Morea, was published in 1758. In 1762 the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in the second edition of his Species plantarum altered the spelling to Moraea, most probably because he wanted to commemorate his father-in-law and their family name Moraeus.

Ciliata means fringed with hairs and describes the fine and rather sparse hairs on the leaf margins. These fine hairs are quite often also found on the inflorescence spathes.