Iridaceae

Dierama K.Koch

First published in Index Seminum (B, Berolinensis) 1854(App.): 10 (1855)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Ethiopia to S. Africa.

Descriptions

Iridaceae, P. Goldblatt. Flora Zambesiaca 12:4. 1993

Morphology General Habit
Evergreen perennial herbs with large corms, aerial parts persisting for several years; corms with coarsely fibrous tunics.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves several, the lower 2–3 sheathing the stem base (cataphylls), these often dry and becoming fibrous; the foliage leaves linear, plane, with many strong parallel fibro-vascular veins, often without a midrib.
Morphology Stem
Stem terete, slender and wiry, usually branched.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence consisting of spikes in a lax panicle; spikes few to many, erect or pendulous, terminal on the main axis and at the ends of wiry lateral branches of the flowering shoot; floral bracts ± solid, or scarious, and often translucent, lacerate above and usually brown-streaked or veined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers usually pink (also red, purple, yellow or white in southern Africa), actinomorphic, usually pendent and campanulate, with a fairly short campanulate perianth tube; tepals subequal; stamens, and often the style, included.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens symmetrically disposed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style exserted from the perianth tube, seldom exceeding the tepal lobes; style branches simple, short, filiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules globose, coriaceous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds globose or lightly angled, hard, smooth and often shiny.
[FZ]

Iridaceae, Peter Goldblatt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1996

Morphology General Habit
Evergreen perennials with large persistent corms with coarsely fibrous tunics
Morphology Leaves
Leaves several, the lower 2-3 sheathing the base (cataphylls), these often dry and becoming fibrous; foliage leaves linear, plane, with many strong parallel fibro-vascular veins, often without a midrib
Morphology Stem
Stem terete, slender and wiry, usually branched
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a spike, the axes wiry, usually drooping, or erect; bracts scarious, solid or membranous, then often translucent, lacerate above and usually brown-streaked or veined
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers usually pink (also red, purple, yellow or white in southern Africa), actinomorphic, usually pendent and campanulate, with a fairly short funnel-shaped tube; tepals subequal, including the stamens and often the style
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens symmetrically disposed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style exserted from the tube, seldom from perianth, the branches simple, short, filiform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules globose, coriaceous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds globose or lightly angled, hard, smooth and often shiny.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0