Gloriosa minor (Colchicaceae) is a showy dryland wildflower species of northern Kenya. The pollination ecology of G. minor was investigated by direct observation. Gloriosa minor relies on pollinators for fruit-set, but natural fruit set appears to be low. Gloriosa minor was found to have a specialised pollination system, with butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) being the only pollinators/flower visitors observed at South Turkwel, Turkana. Pollinators of Gloriosa minor in northern Kenya were all butterflies from the family Pieridae. Five different species of butterfly were observed visiting the flowers: Belenois aurota, Colotis protomedia, Colotis phisadia, Colotis halimede and Catopsilia florella. Gloriosa minor relies on butterfly pollinators for seed production and hence survival in its arid environment.