Flora of New Zealand Series

Fls solitary from amongst lvs, or in racemose or subumbellate infls. Per.-segs free, spreading. Stamens 6, < per.-segs; anthers ± lobed at base. Ovary not beaked; style short with erect stigmas. Fr. a capsule. Seeds ∞, small, subglobose, dark-coloured, the hardened funicle and rostrate hilum forming two conspicuous projections; testa variously muricate. Lvs grass-like, linear-lanceolate to nearly filiform, us. hairy. Some 80 spp., widespread––Africa, America, parts of Asia, Australia––but the genus sts subdivided.

Fig. 19. HYPOXIS. H. pusilla : flower, × 5; capsule; capsule, dehisced, exposing seeds and 3-fid placenta; seed; corm seated on saucer-shaped remains of corms of 4–5 previous seasons, × 5. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X2A]