Iridaceae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iIris family

Dietes grandiflora

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae Juss.

Subfamilies and tribes

Subfamily Crocoideae
Subfamily Iridoideae
- Tribe Irideae
- Tribe Mariceae
- Tribe Sisyrinchieae
- Tribe Tigridieae
Subfamily Isophysidoideae
Subfamily Ixioideae
- Tribe Ixieae
- Tribe Pillansieae
- Tribe Watsonieae
Subfamily Nivenioideae

Iridaceae is a family of plants in Order Asparagales, taking its name from the Irises. It includes a number of other well known cultivated plants, such as the Freesia and the Crocus.

Members of this family are perennials, with a bulb, corm or rhizome. The plants grow erect, and have leaves that are generally grass-like, with a sharp central fold.

[edit] List of genera

Up to 80 genera have been recognised in the family, with a total of around 1500 species, world wide. The Afrotropic ecozone, and in particular South Africa, have the greatest diversity of genera. The spice saffron comes from the stigma of the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus.