Herbs with tuberous rhizome or corm covered with membranous or fibrous sheaths. Leaves usually all basal, often with long hairs. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, mostly white or yellow, solitary, or in spicate, racemose or subumbellate inflorescences; segments 6, subequal, free or basally connate. Stamens usually 6, inserted at base of perianth-segments; anthers often 2-lobed at base, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, 3-locular; ovules usually many, in 2 series on axile placenta in each locule. Fruit usually a capsule crowned by persistent perianth; dehiscence by irregular, often ± circular slits; fruit occasionally fleshy and indehiscent. Seeds small, often black. Five genera (as treated by Hutchinson), mainly S. Hemisphere and tropical Asia.
[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]
Category | Number |
---|---|
Exotic: Fully Naturalised | 1 |
Exotic: Casual | 1 |
Total | 2 |