Babiana
Perennial herb, leaves and flowers annual; corm globose, with outer layers fibrous and fibres extended distally. Leaves several, basal, hairy, sheathing at base, petiolate; lamina usually oblong to narrowly ovate, usually plicate. Inflorescence with scape short, erect, 3-many-flowered; primary bracts herbaceous or dry and membranous. Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic; perianth tube straight or slightly curved, cylindric basally, funnel-shaped distally, lobes equal; stamens symmetrically or asymmetrically arranged around the style, anthers basifixed, narrowly ovate; style with 3 entire branches. Capsule obvoid to globose; seeds numerous.
About 60 species, in southern Africa; a few species cultivated as garden ornamentals, 1 naturalised in Australia and Victoria.
Conn, B.J. (1994). Iridaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 686–716. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
