Hypoxis L.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.

• Family

  Hypoxidaceae

• Scientific Name

  Hypoxis L.

• Description

  Description - Low, mostly villous herbs, with a corm or short rootstock, grass-like leaves and slender few-flowered scapes, the flowers rather small. Perianth 6-parted, its segments equal or nearly so, separate to the summit of the ovary, withering persistent. Stamens inserted on the bases of the perianth-segments; filaments short; anthers erect, sagittate or entire. Ovary 3-celled; style short; stigmas 3, erect; ovules numerous, in 2 rows in each cavity. Capsule thin-walled, not dehiscent by valves. Seeds globular, black, laterally short-beaked by their stalks. [Greek, originally given to some plant with sour leaves.] About 50 species, widely distributed. Type species: Hypoxis decumbens L.