Sparaxis

Sparaxis is a genus of flowering plants called the harlequin flowers. It belongs to the iris family Iridaceae with about 13 species endemic to Cape Province, South Africa.

Sparaxis
Sparaxis bulbifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Crocoideae
Tribe: Croceae
Genus: Sparaxis
Ker Gawl.
Type species
Sparaxis bulbifera
(L.) Ker Gawler
Synonyms[1]
  • Anactorion Raf.
  • ×Sparanthera Cif. & Giacom.
  • Streptanthera Sweet
  • Synnotia Sweet

All are perennials that grow during the wet winter season, flower in spring and survive underground as dormant corms over summer. Their conspicuous flowers have six tepals, which in most species are equal in size and shape.

Sparaxis bulbifera is the most commonly cultivated of the genus, with flowers from cream to yellow or purple. Sparaxis grandiflora is a similar but larger plant. In cultivation in the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[2][3] Sparaxis tricolor has bright red flowers with yellow and black centres. Many named hybrid cultivars were bred from S. bulbifera and S. tricolor.

A group of species with asymmetrical flowers marked in mauve and yellow, including Sparaxis variegata and Sparaxis villosa, was formerly treated as the genus Synnotia.

The genus name is derived from the Greek word sparasso, meaning "to tear", and alludes to the shape of the floral bracts.[4]

Species
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References
  1. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  2. "RHS Plantfinder - Sparaxis grandiflora". Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  3. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 99. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2008). The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 181–84. ISBN 0-88192-897-6.
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