142 jS- IKIDACEAE 



13. Leaves folded, usually hair}'. Periantli with a long tube. — Species 30. 



South Africa and Island of Socotra. Several species have edible bulbs 



or are used as ornamental plants Babiana Ker 



Leaves flat, glabrous 14 



14. Perianth-segments almost free, thinly acuminate, yellowish-green. Ovules 



2 — 3 in each ovary-cell. Inflorescence paniculate. ■ — Species i. South 



Africa (Cape Colony) Melasphaerula Ker 



Perianth-segments evidently united below, obtuse or shortly mucronate. 

 Ovules usually numerous 15 



15. Perianth-tube funnel-shaped (distinctly widened above). Style-branches 



filiform. Spathe-bracts lacerated 16 



Perianth-tube more or less cylindrical (slightly or not widened above). 

 Style-branches usually dilated. Spathe-bracts entire or toothed. 17 



16. Perianth 2-lipped, with a long or rather long tube, yellow or violet. Style- 



branches short. — ^ Species 3. South Africa (Cape Colon}'). Used as 



ornamental plants Synnotia Sweet 



Perianth regular, with a short or rather short tube, yellow red or variegated. 

 Style-branches long. — Species 3. South Africa (Cape Colony), used 

 as ornamental plants. The bulbs are edible Sparaxis Ker 



17. Spathe-bracts long, green, entire. Inflorescence spicate. Perianth nearly 



always with a long tube. — Species 20. South and Central Africa. Used 



as ornamental plants. Acidanthera Höchst. 



Spathe-bracts short, brown, toothed at the top. Inflorescence spicate 

 or paniculate. Perianth with a short or rather short tube. — Species 

 35. South and Central Africa. Many of them are used as ornamental 

 plants ; some yield edible bulbs or a substitute for saffron. (Including 

 Crocosmia Planch., Monihretia DC, and Tritonixia Klatt). 



Tritonia Ker 



18. (10.) Style-branches club-shaped 19 



Style-branches linear or subulate 20 



19. Stigmas notched. Flowers white or yellow. Spathe-bracts lacerated. 



Leaves short. — Species 2. South Africa (Cape Colony). 



Streptanthera Sweet 



Stigmas entire. Flowers white or red. Spathe-bracts entire. Leaves 



long. — Species 2. South and East Africa. Used as ornamental plants. 



Dierama C. Koch 



20. Style-branches linear, slightly dilated, short. Outer spathe-bract bro\Mi. — 



Species 20. »South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. 



(Including Morph ixia Ker) Ixia L. 



Style-branches subulate. Spathe-bracts green or brown at the tip. 21 



21. Style long, with short branches. — Species 35. »South Africa, southern 



Central Africa, and Madagascar. Some are used as ornamental or 



medicinal plants. Geissorrhiza Ker 



Style short, with long branches 22 



