Babiana (/ˌbæbiˈænə/)[2] is a genus of geophytes in the family Iridaceae[3] with 93 recognized species as of March 2022[update]. The leaves consist of a stalk and a blade that are at an angle to each other. The leaf blades are entire, laterally flattened and pleated, and often hairy. Each individual flower is subtended by two hairy or smooth bracts that are green in most species. The outer bract is often the largest of the two. In most species the bracts have a dry, brown tip, but in a few species it is entirely green or entirely dry when flowering or the outer bract is translucent and has a papery texture. The inner bract (between the flower and the stem) is forked or split all the way to its base. Each flower is without a pedicel, with six tepals that are merged at their base into a tube and form a perianth that is mirror-symmetrical in most species, with three anthers implanted where the perianth tube widens and that are, in almost every species, clustered at one side of the style. The style has three branches that widen towards the tip and the ovary is inferior. Flowers occur in almost every conceivable colour, many have markings on some of the tepals, and few star-symmetrical flowers have a centre that strongly contrasts with the free part of the perianth.[1] The majority of these species are endemic to the west and southwest of South Africa, and southwestern Namibia, but one species occurs elsewhere in Namibia and South Africa and another species can be found in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[1] The genus name is derived from the Dutch word baviaan, referring to the Chacma baboon, Papio ursinus, that consumes the corms of plants in the genus.[4] The genus is called bobbejaantjie in Afrikaans,[5] meaning small baboon.
^ abcGoldblatt, Peter; Manning, John C. (2007). "A revision of the South African genus Babiana, Iridaceae, Crocoidae" (PDF). Strelitzia. 18. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, and Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri: 113.
^Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
^Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
^Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2008). The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 175–178. ISBN 978-0-88192-897-6.
^Manning, John (2007). Field Guide to Fynbos. Cape Town, South Africa: Random House Struik Ltd. p. 131.
Babiana hypogaea is a perennial plant of about 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) high that annually forms leaves and flowers from an underground corm that is assigned...
Babiana hirsuta is a species of geophyte of 40–70 cm (16–28 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has many scarlet mirror-symmetrical...
Babiana angustifolia is a plant species in the family Iridaceae. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Babiana angustifolia. "Babiana angustifolia Sweet"...
Babiana lobata is a species of geophyte of 12–25 cm (4.7–9.8 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has leaves that consist of a sheath...
Babiana vanzijliae is a species of geophyte of 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has leaves that consist of a sheath...
Babiana nana is a species of geophyte of 6–15 cm (2.4–5.9 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has leaves that consist of a sheath and...
Babiana ringens, the rat's tail, is a flowering plant endemic to Cape Province of South Africa. The foliage is long and erect with an inflorescence consisting...
Babiana tubiflora is a species of geophyte of 7–15 cm (2.8–5.9 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has whitish mirror-symmetrical flowers...
Babiana mucronata is a perennial plant species that grows to about 5–18 cm (2.0–7.1 in) high and annually forms leaves and flowers from an underground...
Babiana stricta, the baboon flower or blue freesia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Cape Province, South Africa and...
Babiana ambigua is a species of plant in the Iridaceae. It is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a geophyte, that appears from...
Babiana bainesii is a species of geophyte of 15–25 cm (5.9–9.8 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It sometimes grows in tufts. The approximately...
Babiana sambucina is a species of geophyte of 8–30 cm (3.1–11.8 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has dense spikes of blue to violet-coloured...
Babiana dregei is a species of geophyte in the genus Babiana. It is endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa, including Namaqualand. It was named after...
Babiana cinnamomea is a perennial plant of about 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) high that annually forms leaves and flowers from an underground corm that is assigned...
Babiana brachystachys is a species of geophyte of 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has cream or pale pink, only...
Babiana scabrifolia is a perennial plant of 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) high that annually forms leaves and flowers from an underground corm and is assigned...
Babiana virescens is a species of flowering plant from the family Iridaceae. Plants range from 70 - 200 mm tall. Leaves are oblong to lanceolate, with...
Babiana rubrocyanea is a perennial geophyte of 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) high, with entire, lance-shaped, hairy, pleated leaves and flowers that have a narrowly...
Babiana longicollis is a species of plant in the family Iridaceae. It is endemic to Namibia. Craven, P. (2004). "Babiana longicollis". IUCN Red List of...
Babiana pygmaea is a perennial plant of about 10 cm (3.9 in) high that annually forms leaves and flowers from an underground corm that is assigned to...
Babiana villosa is a species of geophyte of 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) high that is assigned to the family Iridaceae. It has mauve-pink, purple or scarlet...
a member of the South African genus Babiana but recognized as a distinct genus in 2003. Miller, A. 2004. Babiana socotrana. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened...
Forever Rhinestone Cowboy". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved January 11, 2018. Babiana, Ana María (July 31, 2017). "In Memoriam: Jeanne Moreau, 1928-2017, Grande...
fish endemic to Mozambique Rat-tail splice, a type of electrical splice Babiana ringens, a flowering plant of South Africa Raphanus caudatus or rattail...
in the family Iridaceae. It contains many genera, including Afrocrocus, Babiana, Chasmanthe, Crocosmia, Crocus, Cyanixia, Devia, Dierama, Duthiastrum,...
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