Family · Monocots
Iridaceae
Irises, crocus, gladiolus, freesia
Rhizomatous, cormous or bulbous herbs with equitant leaves and three-parted flowers, including irises and crocuses.
- Accepted species
- 2,632accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 70accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈56 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Africamost native species · WGSRPD
Open Iridaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Iris
- Crocus
- Gladiolus
- Freesia
Largest genera
Iris340 spp.
Gladiolus299 spp.
Crocus261 spp.
Moraea235 spp.
Sisyrinchium212 spp.
Romulea121 spp.
Geissorhiza106 spp.
Ixia101 spp.
Babiana94 spp.
Hesperantha90 spp.
Trimezia77 spp.
Tigridia63 spp.
Aristea60 spp.
Watsonia54 spp.
Dierama43 spp.
Cypella35 spp.
Tritonia30 spp.
Mastigostyla29 spp.
Lapeirousia28 spp.
Patersonia26 spp.
Tritoniopsis23 spp.
Calydorea21 spp.
Ferraria18 spp.
Olsynium18 spp.
Bobartia17 spp.
Libertia17 spp.
Freesia16 spp.
Sparaxis16 spp.
Afrosolen15 spp.
Herbertia12 spp.
Nivenia11 spp.
Thereianthus11 spp.
Cipura10 spp.
Crocosmia9 spp.
Orthrosanthus9 spp.
Gelasine8 spp.
Codonorhiza7 spp.
Micranthus7 spp.
Zygotritonia7 spp.
Alophia6 spp.
Dietes6 spp.
Ennealophus6 spp.
Syringodea6 spp.
Hesperoxiphion5 spp.
Nemastylis4 spp.
Chasmanthe3 spp.
Eleutherine3 spp.
Geosiris3 spp.
Klattia3 spp.
Larentia3 spp.
Phalocallis3 spp.
Xenoscapa3 spp.
Diplarrena2 spp.
Misionella2 spp.
Radinosiphon2 spp.
Solenomelus2 spp.
Afrocrocus1 spp.
Cobana1 spp.
Cyanixia1 spp.
Devia1 spp.
The 10 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Africa1,404
- Asia-Temperate491
- Southern America420
- Europe185
- Northern America185
- Asia-Tropical39
- Australasia38
- Antarctic2
- Pacific2
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Iridaceae sits in the order Asparagales.
- OrchidaceaeOrchids (largest plant family)31,892
- AsparagaceaeAsparagus, agave, hyacinth, hosta3,628
- AmaryllidaceaeAmaryllis, daffodil, onion, garlic2,571
- AsphodelaceaeAloe, daylily, red-hot poker1,269
- HypoxidaceaeStar grasses166
- Asteliaceae37
- TecophilaeaceaeChilean blue crocus27
- BoryaceaePincushion lilies13
- IxioliriaceaeSiberian lily5
- BlandfordiaceaeChristmas bells4
- DoryanthaceaeSpear lilies2
- XeronemataceaePoor Knights lily2
- LanariaceaeCape edelweiss1