Babiana ambigua is a dwarf geophyte growing in sandy or gravelly flats and lower slopes of the south-western Cape from Vanrhynsdorp to Riversdale. The corm of this summer deciduous perennial is covered in a densely netted tunic; part of the stem is underground.

The corms of Babiana plants are eaten by baboons and porcupines.

B. ambigua has hairy leaves and flower stems. The leaves are linear-lanceolate; the longitudinal leaf pleating, a Babiana characteristic, is shown in the photo (www.fernkloof.com; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).