Iridaceae

Hesperantha Ker Gawl.

First published in Ann. Bot. (König & Sims) 1: 224 (1804)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Cameroon, Ethiopia to S. Africa.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennials with small corms with woody to coriaceous tunics
Morphology Leaves
Leaves few-several, the lower 2-3 membranous and entirely sheathing (cataphylls), foliage leaves lanceolate to linear (rarely terete), the blades plane or sometimes with raised margins and midrib
Morphology Stem
Stem simple or occasionally branched
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a spike; bracts green or membranous to dry apically, the inner smaller than the outer and bicarinate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers actinomorphic, hypocrateriform (zygomorphic in one South African SPECIES), usually white or pink and frequently closed in the day and opening in the evening; tepals united in a cylindric or curved tube, subequal, spread horizontally or cupped
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Filaments straight, exserted (included in a few South African SPECIES and unilateral in one); anthers facing inwards or articulated on the filaments and horizontal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style usually dividing at the mouth of the tube (or within the tube in a few South African SPECIES), the branches long and spreading, stigmatic along the entire length
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules broadly ovoid to cylindric, sometimes dehiscing only in the upper third
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds many, subglobose to angular, sometimes lightly winged on the angles.
[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herbs with small corms, aerial parts dying back annually; corms with woody to coriaceous tunics.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves few to several, the lower 2–3 membranous and entirely sheathing (cataphylls); foliage leaves lanceolate to linear (rarely terete), the blades plane or sometimes with raised margins and midrib.
Morphology Stem
Stem simple or occasionally branched.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a spike; floral bracts green, or membranous to dry apically, the inner smaller than the outer and bicarinate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers usually white or pink, usually closed in the day and opening in the evening; actinomorphic, hypocraterifonn (zygomorphic in one South African species); tepals united in a straight or curved perianth tube, subequal, patent-spreading or cup-shaped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens usually symmetrically arranged; filaments straight (included within the perianth in a few South African species and unilateral in one); anthers facing inwards or articulated on the filaments and horizontal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style usually dividing at the mouth of the perianth tube (or within the tube in a few South African species); style branches long and spreading, stigmatic along the entire length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules broadly ovoid to cylindric, sometimes dehiscing only in the upper third.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds many, subglobose to angular, sometimes lightly winged on the angles.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herbs with short rhizome-like rootstocks, aerial parts dying back annually.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves several, narrowly lanceolate, plane.
Morphology Stem
Stem erect, usually unbranched.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a distichous spike; floral bracts herbaceous, the inner smaller than the outer.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers actinomorphic, hypocrateriform; tepals united in a long cylindrical perianth tube, subequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens symmetrically arranged, the filaments exserted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary globose, style dividing at the mouth of the perianth tube; style branches filiform, long and spreading, stigmatic along their entire length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules membranous, oblong to globose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous per locule, more or less angular.
[FZ]

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