Freesia Eckl. ex Klatt

Iridaceae, P. Goldblatt. Flora Zambesiaca 12:4. 1993

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs with corms, aerial parts dying back annually; corms with fibrous tunics.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves several, the lower 1–2, entirely sheathing (cataphylls); foliage leaves plane, firm or soft-textured.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a spike, usually flexed at the base (flowers solitary on inflorescence branches in 2 South African spp.), floral bracts herbaceous to coriaceous, the inner shorter than the outer, often brown at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers zygomorphic, in shades of pink to red or whitish usually with contrasting darker markings on the lower 3 tepals; perianth tube well developed, either slender and cylindric throughout or narrowly campanulate; tepals subequal or the upper larger and erect and the 3 lower inclined to the horizontal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens unilateral and arcuate, filaments usually mostly included; anthers parallel and contiguous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary globose-oblong, style exserted; style branches filiform, each deeply divided and recurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules globose, coriaceous, usually papillate to rugose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds few to many per locule, angular to oblong-globose.