Chlamysporum Salisbury, nom. rej.

Herbs perennial, with a short or elongate rhizome. Leaves basal or nearly so, grasslike, sometimes very narrow, flat or terete. Scape axillary. Inflorescence usually a terminal raceme or panicle, less often an umbel or solitary flower; bracts small. Flowers bisexual; pedicel articulate proximally. Tepals 6, free, persistent; outer ones entire; inner ones usually fimbriate-ciliate at margin. Stamens 6, included, inner ones sometimes reduced; filaments rather short; anthers basifixed, inner ones usually longer. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules 2 per locule. Style filiform; stigma small. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds few, black.

About 50 species: mainly in Australia, a few species in tropical Asia; one species in China.

(Authors: Chen Xinqi (陈心启 Chen Sing-chi); Minoru N. Tamura)