Perennial rhizomatous herbs with tuber-tipped thin roots. Leaves annual on erect herbaceous stems, non-sheathing, obovate, stalked, leaf stalk twisted, inverting the leaf blade. Flowers narrowly bellshaped or more or less tubular, radially symmetrical, stalked. Inflorescence a terminal, branched, many-flowered umbel.Tepals 3+3, free, at least some conspicuously spotted or striped. Stamens 3+3, equalling tepals. Fruit a leathery dehiscent capsule. Seeds ovoid, fleshy, orange to red.
Several species used horticulturally, at least three species grown in Australia.
About 120 species from C and S America.
Inverted leaves; climbing habit; leathery capsule; fleshy seeds.
Source: (2005). Alstroemeriaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
