Melasphaerula

Melasphaerula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Subfamily:	Crocoideae
Tribe:	Gladioleae
Genus:	Melasphaerula Ker Gawl.
Species:	M. graminea
Binomial name
Melasphaerula graminea (L.f.) Ker Gawl.
Synonyms [1]
Gladiolus gramineusL.f. Diasia graminifoliaDC. Diasia iridifoliaDC. Melasphaerula intermediaSweet Melasphaerula parvifloraG.Lodd. Melasphaerula iridifoliaSweet Diasia intermediaHeynh. Diasia parviflora(G.Lodd.) Steud.

Melasphaerula is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1803. There is only one known species, Melasphaerula graminea, native to Namibia and the Cape Province in South Africa. ^[1]

The genus name is derived from the Greek words melas, meaning "black", and sphaerulos, meaning "small sphere". ^[2]

Some sources use the name Melasphaerula parviflora for the species, not accepting Melasphaerula graminea. ^{[3] [4]}

References

1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2008). The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 142–44. ISBN   978-0-88192-897-6.
3. Innes, C. (1985). The World of Iridaceae: 1-407. Holly Gare International Ltd., Ashington
4. Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14.: i-vi, 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria