Orthrosanthus Explained

Orthrosanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae first described as a genus in 1827. It is native to Australia, Mexico, Central and South America.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

The genus name is derived from the Greek words orthros, meaning "morning", and anthos, meaning "flower".^[7] They are known commonly as morning irises.

Description

These are rhizomatous perennial herbs. The linear to sword-shaped leaves are arranged in a layered fan. The flowers are usually blue, except in one white-flowered species. This genus is closely related to the genus Libertia. The flowers are very similar, but Libertia flowers are usually white.^[7]

Species^[1]

• Orthrosanthus acorifolius (Kunth) Ravenna - Colombia, Venezuela
• Orthrosanthus chimboracensis (Kunth) Baker - Chiapas, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Brazil
• Orthrosanthus exsertus (R.C.Foster) Ravenna - Mexico, Honduras
• Orthrosanthus laxus (Endl.) Benth. - Western Australia
• Orthrosanthus monadelphusRavenna - southern Mexico, Central America
• Orthrosanthus muelleri Benth. Benth. - Western Australia
• Orthrosanthus multiflorus Sweet - Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria
• Orthrosanthus occissapungus (Ruiz ex Klatt) Diels - Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina
• Orthrosanthus polystachyus Benth. - many-spike orthrosanthus - Western Australia

External links

• Web site: Orthrosanthus . 2007-09-10 . Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra.

Notes and References

1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=324134 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. Woodson, R.E. & Schery, R.W. (1945). Flora of Panama Part 3, Fasc. 1.. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 32: 34-43.
3. Innes, C. (1985). The World of Iridaceae: 1-407. Holly Gare International Ltd., Ashington.
4. Cooke, D.A. (1986). Flora of Australia 46: i-xii, 1-247. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
5. Henrich, J.E. & Goldblatt, P. (1987). A Review of the New World species of Orthrosanthus Sweet.. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 74: 577-582.
6. Espejo Serna, A. & López-Ferrari, A.R. (1996). Monocotiledóneas Mexicanas: una sinopsis florística 6: 43-59. Mexico City : Consejo Nacional de la Flora de Mexico.
7. Book: Manning, John . Goldblatt, Peter . The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification . Timber Press . Portland, Oregon. 216–19 . 2008. 978-0-88192-897-6.