Perennial fibrous-rooted cormous herbs. Leaves simple, entire, linear to ovate, basal. Flowers radially or bilaterally symmetrical, bisexual, 1 to many in terminal or axillary, sometimes scapose racemes or panicles.Tepals 3+3, fused; individual flower stalks not articulated. Fertile stamens fewer than 6, attached to the mouth of the tepal tube, opening by apical pores or slits. Ovary superior to half-inferior, 3-chambered with 2 to many ovules. Fruit a few to many seeded, dry dehiscent capsule. Seeds yellow to black.
A family considered to be closely related to the Iridaceae.
8 genera from Africa, Madagascar and Chile.
Cormous herbs with often bilaterally symmetrical flowers with fused tepals and reduced anthers opening by pores or slits.
Source: (2005). Tecophilaeaceae. 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.