Genus: Babiana

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  Monocotyledons >  Order: Asparagales >  Family: Iridaceae

Endemic to southern Africa. Most of the 68 or so species are endemic to the Western Cape and Namaqualand (Northern Cape).

Four main types of pollination have been discerned in this genus (Goldblatt & Manning 2000):

• Many short-tubed species are pollinated by long-tongued bees, particularly those in the family Anthophoridae.
• Long-tubed species are pollinated by long-proboscid flies in the genera Prosoeca and Moegistorhynchus (Diptera: Nemestrinidae).
• Species with large, actinomorphic flowers are pollinated by monkey beetles (Hopliini).
• There are 2 or 3 red-flowered species that are pollinated by sunbirds.

Publications

• Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J.C. 2000. Iridaceae. In: In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 623-638. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

• Lewis, G.J. 1959. The genus Babiana. Journal of South African Botany, Supplementary Volume 3.