Hesperantha is a genus of approximately 79 species of cormous flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, within the order Asparagales. The genus was described by John Bellenden Ker Gawler, and its name derives from the Greek words hesperos ("evening") and anthos ("flower"), reflecting the tendency of many species to open their flowers in the evening hours.
Plants in the genus grow predominantly from corms — compact, starchy storage organs — with a single exception: Hesperantha coccinea, the most widely grown member, which is rhizomatous. The genus is centred on southern Africa, which is home to the great majority of its species, while four species extend into tropical Africa.
Hesperantha coccinea (scarlet river lily, kaffir lily, crimson flag) is the genus's best-known representative and is widely cultivated in gardens, particularly in the British Isles, where it has historically been sold under the synonym Schizostylis coccinea. It has given rise to numerous garden cultivars and is valued for its late-season crimson to pink flowers.
Etymology
The genus name Hesperantha is formed from two Greek words: hesperos, meaning "evening," and anthos, meaning "flower." The name alludes to the habit of several species of opening their blossoms in the evening rather than during full daylight.
Distribution
Hesperantha is primarily a southern African genus, with the vast majority of its approximately 79 species distributed across southern Africa. Four species extend northward into tropical Africa. The genus is absent from other continents in the wild, though H. coccinea is widely naturalised and cultivated in temperate gardens worldwide.
Cultivation
Hesperantha coccinea and its many cultivars are among the most widely grown members of the genus, particularly valued in British and temperate-zone gardens for their late-summer and autumn flowering period. The species tolerates moist, well-drained soils and performs well alongside water features. It has been cultivated under the trade name Schizostylis, a name still encountered in the horticultural trade.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus Hesperantha (Ker Gawl.) belongs to the family Iridaceae, order Asparagales. The name Schizostylis has historically been applied in horticulture to the rhizomatous H. coccinea, which was once segregated into its own genus on account of its rhizomatous habit and distinctive floral morphology; current taxonomy treats Schizostylis as a synonym of Hesperantha. The authorship of the accepted genus name is Ker Gawl.
