Perennial herbs, dying back each year, with corms. Inflorescence a spike with secund flowers. Flowers zygomorphic; tepals united
into a perianth tube. Style branches expanded above (i.e.
broader towards apex) and sometimes 2-lobed at the apex. Fruit
a capsule, slightly inflated. Seeds broadly winged. Derivation of name: 'Little sword' (Latin) referring to the flattened sword-shaped leaves Worldwide: c. 250 species in Europe, Mediterranean area, tropical African mountains, South Africa and Madagascar Caprivi: 8 cultivated taxa. |