Eriospermaceae

Abstract

Geophytic, tuberous perennial herbs with leaves hysteranthous or synanthous. Tuber hypocotyledonary in origin, single or multiple, sometimes with slender, rhizomelike outgrowths, flesh white, yellow, pink to maroon-red, with the growing point single or multiple, apical, basal or lateral. Leaves 1-several, with petiolelike leaf sheath, with age forming a fibrous or membranous neck; blade linear to ovate or orbicular, erect or prostrate, glabrous or pubescent, producing complex enations from the adaxial surface in some species. Flowering stem a scape, erect, with a sheathing cataphyll either subterranean or aerial and green. Inflorescence a simple raceme, straight or flexuose, few-to many-flowered. Flowers hermaphrodite, few to numerous, sometimes scented; bracts minute, membranous; pedicels accrescent, very short to long, erect-patent. Perianth white, pink or yellow, persistent; tepals 6, in 2 whorls, connate shortly at the base, rotate, campanulate or cyathiform, equal or dimorphic with outer spreading and inner erect. Stamens 6, adnate to base of tepals; filaments filiform to broadly lanceolate; anthers bithecate and tetrasporangiate, dorsifixed, versatile, subglobose to oval, introrse. Ovary superior, sessile, 3-locular, with basal septal nectaries; ovules axile, 3–6 per locule; style terete; stigma apical, small. Capsule turbinate or ovoid, emarginate, loculicidally 3-valved, valves persistent. Seeds 6–12 per capsule, oval to comma-shaped; testa fawn, densely covered with white, unicellular hairs up to 8 mm long, turning brown with age; embryo large; perisperm replacing an endosperm in the mature seed, at least in some species.