Cyanastrum Explained

Cyanastrum is a genus of plants in the family Tecophilaeaceae, native to tropical Africa. It contains three currently recognized species.^[1]

Description

Cyanastrum has a corm that lacks a protective tunic. The leaf and the inflorescence emerge from different corm-scales, and are present at different times. The leaf has a short stalk, is basal and is usually single. The inflorescence is a raceme, often with no bracts, the tepals are blue and the flowers have parts in sixes.^[2]

Species

The following species are recognized:^[1]

1. Cyanastrum cordifolium Oliv. – Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, Zaire (Congo-Kinshasa)
2. Cyanastrum goetzeanum Engl. – Tanzania
3. Cyanastrum johnstonii Baker in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.) – Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zaire (Congo-Kinshasa)

Notes and References

1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=303727 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Cyanastrum
2. Book: Klaus Kubitzki. Flowering Plants. Monocotyledons: Lilianae (except Orchidaceae). 2013. Springer Science & Business Media . 978-3-662-03533-7 . 434.