''Eriospermum'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...

ous

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s. It contains about 80-100 species, native to

sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref>

Name

The name "Eriospermum" is from the Greek ''erion'' for "wool" and ''sperma'' for "seed". In the APG III classification system, the genus is placed in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Asparagaceae Asparagaceae, known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, ''Asparagus officinalis''. Those who live in the temperate c ...

, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). It was formerly placed in its own family, Eriospermaceae.

Selected speciesPerry, P.L. (1994) ''A Revision of the Genus Eriospermum (Eriospermaceae)''. Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town, 1: 1-320.

*'' Eriospermum aphyllum'' *'' Eriospermum bayeri'' *'' Eriospermum bowieanum'' *'' Eriospermum breviscapum'' *'' Eriospermum capense'' *'' Eriospermum cooperi'' *'' Eriospermum dregei'' *'' Eriospermum exile'' *'' Eriospermum graminifolium'' *'' Eriospermum lanceifolium'' *'' Eriospermum paradoxum'' *'' Eriospermum proliferum'' *'' Eriospermum pubescens'' *'' Eriospermum zeyheri''

Gallery

File:Eriospermum abyssinicum 1DS-II 3-7249.jpg, '' Eriospermum abyssinicum''. The genus name ''"Eriospermum"'' means "wool-seeds". File:Eriospermum aphyllum00.jpg, '' Eriospermum aphyllum'' File:Eriospermum boweianum - Bonnievale.jpg, '' Eriospermum bowieanum'' File:Eriospermum confusum..jpg, '' Eriospermum corymbosum'' File:Eriospermum capense (Asparagaceae) (27061758182).jpg, '' Eriospermum capense'' File:Eriospermum mackenii subsp. mackenii 1DS-II 9109.jpg, '' Eriospermum mackenii'' File:Eriospermum paradoxum - Ashton South Africa.jpg, '' Eriospermum paradoxum'' File:Eriospermum porphyrium 1DS-II 4-2705.jpg, ''

Eriospermum porphyrium ''Eriospermum'' is a genus of tuberous flowering plants. It contains about 80-100 species, native to sub-Saharan Africa. Name The name "Eriospermum" is from the Greek ''erion'' for "wool" and ''sperma'' for "seed". In the APG III classificat ...

References

Flora of Africa Asparagaceae genera {{Asparagaceae-stub