Greek sparassein – torn, referring to the lacerate spathes
Small perennial herbs, dormant in summer. Corms globose with fibrous tunics. Leaves linear with midvein. Flowers large, few, in a loose spike. Spathes acute, papery, brown-streaked, deeply torn. Perianth tube funnel-shaped. Style branches entire, linear, with minute terminal stigmas.
13 species in Cape Province, S Africa.
Offsets and stem cormils.
Similar to Tritonia but the perianth lobes shorter than the flower tube and the spathes deeply torn.
Goldblatt (1969, 1999).
Source: (2005). Iridaceae. 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.