Wurmbea Thunb.

Colchicaceae, Kim Hoenselaar. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Plants relatively small, with a tunicated, bulb-like corm; stem erect, lowermost leaf a membranous, sheathing, tubular cataphyll, not protracted into a leaf-blade, followed by a solitary basal leaf and 1–3 cauline leaves, which are basally sheathing the stem

Morphology Leaves

Leaves linear or linear-filiform, semi-terete, somewhat flattened with a concave or channeled adaxial side, or flattened

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a spike, 1-many flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers stellate to campanulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth segments basally united in a short to long tube, spreading; nectary a variously shaped, swollen organ in the lower half of the perianth segments

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens inserted at the throat of the perianth tube; filaments filiform; anthers oblong or oblong-ellipsoid, minute, dorsifixed, versatile, dehiscing extrorsely by longitudinal slits

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary ellipsoid, oblong to ovoid, sometimes triangular; styles 3, erect, free, short, subulate to falcate; stigma minute, persistent in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule oblong, elliptic-oblong, ovoid or obovoid, sometimes slightly triquetrous, septicidal, coriaceous; seeds subglobose, occasionally compressed or slightly angular, with an appendage or minute beak on one side.