826.000 Xyris L.

Annual or perennial herbs, often forming clumps; rhizomes, when present, short, horizontal or ascending. Leaves virtually all basal. Inflorescence a condensed bracteate spike at the end of elongated peduncles which are often variously grooved or ridged; lower bracts of the spike occasionally elongated or reflexed. Flowers borne singly in the axils of the fertile bracts, short-lived; calyx of 3 unequal segments, the adaxial hooded and enclosing the flower-bud, the laterals asymmetric and often keeled; corolla yellow (blue in at least one West African species). Fruit a loculicidal capsule.

Derivation of name: from Greek: xyron, meaning a razor, applied to an aromatic species of Iris with razor-like leaves.

Malawi: 14 taxa.