Greek erem – solitary or desert, urus – tail
Perennial herbs with stout rhizomes and fleshy roots. Leaves annual in a basal rosette, sheathing, linear to ovate. Flowers widely opening, radially symmetrical, stalked, stalks not articulated. Inflorescence a terminal, erect, many-flowered, dense raceme.Tepals 3+3, free or fused basally. Stamens 3+3, equal, free; anthers basifixed, generally equalling or longer than tepals. Fruit a dehiscent capsule. Seeds angular, black.
About 20 species are used horticulturally, only 4 generally grown in southern Australia.
About 40-50 species from W and C Asia.
The rosette leaves from thick rhizomes; racemes of densely packed widely opening flowers with basifixed anthers.
Wendelbo & Furse (1968).
Source: (2005). Eremurus. 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.