Iridaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants (anthophytes) in the order Asparagales, the asparagoid lilies. The family takes its name from the irises, meaning rainbow, referring to its many colours. There are 66 accepted genera with a total of c. 2244 species worldwide. It includes a number of other well known cultivated plants, such as freesias, gladioli and crocuses. Members of this family are perennial plants, with a bulb, corm or rhizome. The plants grow erect, and have leaves that are generally grass-like, with a sharp central fold.
23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.
The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).
65 genera are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.
Acidanthera Genus Acidanthera: Acidanthera capensis (Houtt.) Baker. accepted as Ixia paniculata D.Delaroch. indigenous
Afrosolen Genus Afrosolen: Afrosolen bainesii (Baker) Goldblatt & J.C.Mannin. indigenous Afrosolen masukuensis (Vaupel & Schltr.) Goldblatt & J.C.Mannin. indigenous Afrosolen sandersonii (Baker) Goldblatt & J.C.Mannin. indigenous Afrosolen sandersonii (Baker) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. limpopoensis (Goldblatt & J.C.Manning. endemic Afrosolen sandersonii (Baker) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. sandersoni. indigenous
Agretta Genus Agretta: Agretta crispa Eckl. accepted as Ixia erubescens Goldblat. indigenous Agretta pallidiflavens Eckl. accepted as Ixia odorata Ker Gawl. indigenous Agretta pentandra (L.f.) Eckl. accepted as Ixia scillaris L. subsp. scillari. indigenous Agretta stricta Eckl. accepted as Ixia stricta (Eckl. ex Klatt) G.J.Lewi. indigenous
Anisanthus Genus Anisanthus: Anisanthus caryophyllaceus (Burm.f.) Klatt, accepted as Freesia caryophyllacea (Burm.f.) N.E.Br.
Anomatheca Genus Anomatheca: Anomatheca cruenta Lindl, accepted as Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. laxa Anomatheca fistulosa (Spreng. ex Klatt) Goldblatt, accepted as Xenoscapa fistulosa (Spreng. ex Klatt) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning Anomatheca grandiflora Baker, accepted as Freesia grandiflora (Baker) Klatt subsp. grandiflora Anomatheca laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt subsp. azurea Goldblatt & Hutchings, accepted as Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. azurea (Goldblatt & Hutchings) Goldblatt & J.C. Anomatheca verrucosa (B.Vogel) Goldblatt, accepted as Freesia verrucosa (B.Vogel) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning Anomatheca viridis (Aiton) Goldblatt subsp. crispifolia Goldblatt, accepted as Freesia viridis (Aiton) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. viridis
Antholyza Genus Antholyza: Antholyza caryophyllaceae (Burm.f.) Roem. & Schult, accepted as Freesia caryophyllacea (Burm.f.) N.E.Br. Antholyza fourcadei L.Bolus, accepted as Gladiolus fourcadei (L.Bolus) Goldblatt & M.P.de Vos
Aristea Genus Aristea: Aristea abyssinica Pax, indigenous Aristea africana (L.) Hoffmanns, endemic Aristea anceps Eckl. ex Klatt, endemic Aristea angolensis Baker, indigenous Aristea angolensis Baker subsp. acutivalvis Weim, indigenous Aristea angolensis Baker subsp. angolensis, indigenous Aristea angolensis Baker subsp. majubensis (Baker) Weim, accepted as Aristea angolensis Baker subsp. angolensis Aristea angolensis Baker subsp. pulchella Weim, endemic Aristea bakeri Klatt, endemic Aristea biflora Weim, endemic Aristea bracteata Pers, endemic Aristea cantharophila Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Aristea capitata (L.) Ker Gawl, endemic Aristea cistiflora J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, endemic Aristea cognata N.E.Br. ex Weim, accepted as Aristea abyssinica Pax Aristea compressa Buchinger, accepted as Aristea compressa Buchinger ex Baker Aristea compressa Buchinger ex Baker, indigenous Aristea confusa Goldblatt, accepted as Aristea bakeri Klatt Aristea cuspidata Schinz, endemic Aristea dichotoma (Thunb.) Ker Gawl, endemic Aristea ecklonii Baker, indigenous Aristea elliptica Goldblatt & A.P.Dold, endemic Aristea ensifolia John Muir, endemic Aristea fimbriata Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Aristea flexicaulis Baker, endemic Aristea galpinii N.E.Br. ex Weim, indigenous Aristea gerrardii Weim, accepted as Aristea compressa Buchinger ex Baker, indigenous Aristea glauca Klatt, endemic Aristea grandis Weim, endemic Aristea inaequalis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Aristea juncifolia Baker, endemic Aristea latifolia G.J.Lewis, endemic Aristea lugens (L.f.) Steud, endemic Aristea macrocarpa G.J.Lewis, accepted as Aristea bakeri Klatt Aristea major Andrews, accepted as Aristea capitata (L.) Ker Gawl. Aristea montana Baker, indigenous Aristea monticola Goldblatt, accepted as Aristea bracteata Pers. Aristea nana Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Aristea nigrescens J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, endemic Aristea oligocephala Baker, endemic Aristea palustris Schltr, endemic Aristea parviflora Baker, indigenous Aristea pauciflora Wolley-Dod, endemic Aristea platycaulis Baker, endemic Aristea pusilla (Thunb.) Ker Gawl, endemic Aristea pusilla (Thunb.) Ker Gawl. subsp. robustior Weim, accepted as Aristea elliptica Goldblatt & A.P.Dold Aristea racemosa Baker, indigenous Aristea racemosa Baker var. inflata Weim, endemic Aristea racemosa Baker var. racemosa, endemic Aristea recisa Weim, endemic Aristea rigidifolia G.J.Lewis, endemic Aristea rufobracteata Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Aristea rupicola Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Aristea schizolaena Harv. ex Baker, endemic Aristea simplex Weim, endemic Aristea singularis Weim, endemic Aristea spiralis (L.f.) Ker Gawl, endemic Aristea teretifolia Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Aristea torulosa Klatt, indigenous Aristea woodii N.E.Br, accepted as Aristea torulosa Klatt Aristea zeyheri Baker, endemic
Babiana Genus Babiana: Babiana ambigua (Roem. & Schult.) G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana angustifolia Sweet, endemic Babiana arenicola Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana attenuata G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana auriculata G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana avicularis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana bainesii Baker, indigenous Babiana blanda (L.Bolus) G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana brachystachys (Baker) G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana carminea J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous Babiana cedarbergensis G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana cinnamomea J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous Babiana confusa (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana crispa G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana cuneata J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, endemic Babiana curviscapa G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana disticha Ker Gawl. accepted as Babiana fragrans (Jacq.) Steud. Babiana dregei Baker, endemic Babiana ecklonii Klatt, endemic Babiana ecklonii Klatt var.ecklonii, accepted as Babiana ecklonii Klatt, endemic Babiana ecklonii Klatt var. latifolia (L.Bolus) G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana latifolia L.Bolus, endemic Babiana engysiphon J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous Babiana falcata G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana hypogaea Burch. Babiana fimbriata (Klatt) Baker, endemic Babiana flabellifolia Harv. ex Klatt, endemic Babiana flavida G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana hypogaea Burch. Babiana foliosa G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana fourcadei G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana fragrans (Jacq.) Steud. endemic Babiana framesii L.Bolus, endemic Babiana framesii L.Bolus var. kamiesbergensis G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana curviscapa G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana gariepensis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana geniculata G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana grandiflora Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana hirsuta (Lam.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana horizontalis G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana hypogaea Burch. indigenous Babiana inclinata Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana karooica Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana klaverensis G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. subsp. minor (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana lanata Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana lapeirousioides Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana latifolia L.Bolus, endemic Babiana leipoldtii G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana lewisiana B.Nord. endemic Babiana lineolata Klatt, endemic Babiana lobata G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana longiflo (P.J.Bergius) Steud. accepted as Ixia paniculata D.Delaroche, indigenous Babiana longiflora Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, accepted as Babiana tubaeformis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana melanops Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana minuta G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana montana G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. endemic Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. subsp. minor (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. subsp. mucronata, endemic Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. var. longituba G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. subsp. mucronata, endemic Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. var. minor G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana mucronata (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. subsp. minor (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning Babiana namaquensis Baker, indigenous Babiana nana (Andrews) Spreng. indigenous Babiana nana (Andrews) Spreng. subsp. maculata (Klatt) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana nana (Andrews) Spreng. subsp. nana, endemic Babiana nana (Andrews) Spreng. var. confusa G.J.Lewis, accepted as Babiana confusa (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana nana (Andrews) Spreng. var. maculata (Klatt) B.Nord. accepted as Babiana nana (Andrews) Spreng. subsp. maculata (Klatt) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning Babiana noctiflora J.C.Manning & Goldblatt, indigenous Babiana obliqua E.Phillips, accepted as Babiana ambigua (Roem. & Schult.) G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana odorata L.Bolus, endemic Babiana papyracea Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana patersoniae L.Bolus, endemic Babiana patula N.E.Br. endemic Babiana pauciflora G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana petiolata Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana pilosa G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana planifolia (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana praemorsa Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana pubescens (Lam.) G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana purpurea Ker Gawl. endemic Babiana pygmaea (Burm.f.) Baker, endemic Babiana radiata Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana regia (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana rigidifolia Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana ringens (L.) Ker Gawl. indigenous Babiana ringens (L.) Ker Gawl. subsp. australis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana ringens (L.) Ker Gawl. subsp. ringens, endemic Babiana rivulicola Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana rubella Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, indigenous Babiana rubrocyanea (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. endemic Babiana salteri G.J.Lewis, endemic Babiana sambucina (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. indigenous Babiana sambucina (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. subsp. longibracteata (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning, endemic Babiana sambucina (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. subsp. sambucina, endemic