Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 7, 2026

Melasphaerula

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.

Last revised
Jun 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
191 w
Citations
5
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Melasphaerula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
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.
Synonyms1
  • Gladiolus gramineus L.f.
  • Diasia graminifolia DC.
  • Diasia iridifolia DC.
  • Melasphaerula intermedia Sweet
  • Melasphaerula parviflora G.Lodd.
  • Melasphaerula iridifolia Sweet
  • Diasia intermedia Heynh.
  • 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.34

References

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