Caesia is a small genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae (subfamily Hemerocallidoideae), placed within the order Asparagales. The genus comprises approximately three accepted species distributed across Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar, and Southern Africa.
Plants in this genus are slender herbs producing flowers with six tepals, typically blue or white, arranged in loose racemes. The mostly 3-lobed seed capsules are a distinctive feature, containing rounded black seeds. The genus is closely allied with other small monocot genera in the Hemerocallidoideae, the subfamily that also includes daylilies (Hemerocallis).
Caesia was established to honour Federico Cesi (1585–1630), the Italian naturalist and founder of the Accademia dei Lincei, one of the world's earliest scientific academies. Species such as Caesia parviflora and Caesia viscida are found in Australian grasslands and open woodlands.
Etymology
The genus name Caesia honours Federico Cesi (1585–1630), an Italian scientist and nobleman who founded the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome — one of the world’s earliest scientific academies and the institution that supported Galileo Galilei.
Distribution
Caesia is native to Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar, and Southern Africa. The centre of diversity is Australia, where species such as Caesia parviflora and Caesia viscida occur in grasslands, open woodlands, and heath.
Taxonomy Notes
Caesia is placed in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, within the order Asparagales. GBIF lists the family as Hemerocallidaceae — a name now treated as a synonym of Asphodelaceae under the APG IV classification. The genus contains approximately three accepted species.
