Ixia

Ixia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Crocoideae
Tribe: Croceae
Genus: Ixia
L. (1762), nom. cons.
Type species
Ixia polystachya
L.
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Agretta Eckl. (1827), nom. nud.
  • Dichone P.Lawson ex Salisb. (1812)
  • Eurydice (Pers.) Nois. (1826)
  • Houttuynia Houtt. (1780), nom. rej.
  • Hyalis Salisb. (1812), nom. nud.
  • Morphixia Ker Gawl. (1827)
  • Wuerthia Regel (1851)

Ixia is a genus of cormous plants native to South Africa from the family Iridaceae. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include sword-like leaves and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers well-drained soil. The popular corn lily has specific, not very intense fragrance. It is often visited by many insects such as bees. The Ixia are also used sometimes as ornamental plants. The genus is endemic to the Cape Provinces of western South Africa.[1]

The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek ἰξία (ixia) ( = χαμαιλέων λευκός, (chamaeleon leukos)), the pine thistle, Carlina gummifera, an unrelated plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae.

  1. ^ a b Ixia L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 26 September 2023.