Greek dierama – funnel, referring to the shape of the perianth.

Evergreen herbs with rhizomes. Leaves tough, linear, arching. Flowers pendulous in groups of 2-9 on fine lax stalks hanging from an arching leafless stem. Spathes acute, papery. Perianth tube funnelshaped, lobes slightly unequal. Stamens enclosed. Style branches 3, cylindrical, slightly protruding.

44 species in southern and E Africa.

Division of the clumps in autumn.

Flowers bell-shaped, hanging upside down from stems arched like fishing rods.

Hilliard & Burtt (1990, 1991).

Source: Cooke, D. (2005). Iridaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.