Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Wonderful Plants
Type:
Picture
Chapter:
633.21.00
Geosiris aphylla
Name: geos, meaning "earth", and iris.
Genus: 2 species
Region: Madagascar.
Botany: mycoheterotrophic, lacking chlorophyl; rhizomes slender and scaly; stems simple or branched; leaves alternate, reduced, scale-like; flowers light purple.
Taxonomy
Jonker assigned Geosiris to its own family Geosiridaceae in Orchidales. Cronquist adopted thisd, altough noting that the family was closely related to Iridaceae or Burmanniaceae. The Apg classification placed it in the family Iridaceae, within the Nivenioideae subfamily.