Pauridia is a genus of small geophytic flowering plants in the family Hypoxidaceae, within the order Asparagales. The genus is commonly known as "capestars," a name reflecting the star-shaped flowers and the Cape region of southern Africa where many species originate.
Plants in this genus grow from corms and typically produce narrow, grass-like leaves at or near ground level. The flowers are borne on slender scapes and display the characteristic star-shaped, six-tepalled form shared across Hypoxidaceae. Species range from tiny annuals to small perennials and are adapted to seasonally dry or Mediterranean-type climates.
The genus has a disjunct native distribution: southern Africa — encompassing the Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, and Namibia — and southern Australia, where species occur across New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Pauridia glabella, known as "Tiny Star," is among the best-known Australian representatives. The genus has also been introduced into New Zealand. GBIF recognises 17 accepted taxa.
The genus was described by William Henry Harvey in 1838 (Gen.S.Afr.Pl.). Several species now placed in Pauridia were formerly classified under the closely related genus Spiloxene (southern African species) or under Hypoxis (Australian species); the reclassification by Snijman & Kocyan in Phytotaxa 116 (2013) consolidated these into a broadly circumscribed Pauridia.
Etymology
The genus name Pauridia was coined by William Henry Harvey in his 1838 Genera of South African Plants. The derivation is not detailed in the sources consulted; however, the popular common name "capestars" alludes to the star-shaped flowers and the Cape region of South Africa where the type species (Pauridia capensis) occurs.
Distribution
Pauridia is native to two geographically separated regions: southern Africa (the Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, and Namibia) and southern Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia). The genus has been introduced into New Zealand, where at least one species (Pauridia glabella) is naturalised.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus was established by Harvey (1838) in Hypoxidaceae. A major reclassification by Snijman & Kocyan published in Phytotaxa 116 (2013) transferred numerous southern African species previously placed in Spiloxene, and Australian species previously in Hypoxis and related genera, into Pauridia. GBIF currently recognises 17 accepted taxa in the genus.
