Orthrosanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae first described as a genus in 1827. It is native to western and southern Australia and the Americas from Mexico to northwestern Argentina.
The genus name is derived from the Greek words orthros, meaning "morning", and anthos, meaning "flower". They are known commonly as morning irises.
Description
These are rhizomatous perennial herbs. The linear to sword-shaped leaves are arranged in a layered fan. The flowers are usually blue, except in one white-flowered species. This genus is closely related to the genus Libertia. The flowers are very similar, but Libertia flowers are usually white.
Species
Orthrosanthus acorifolius (Kunth) Ravenna - Colombia, Venezuela
Orthrosanthus chimboracensis (Kunth) Baker - Chiapas, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Brazil
Orthrosanthus exsertus (R.C.Foster) Ravenna - Mexico, Honduras
Orthrosanthus laxus (Endl.) Benth. - Western Australia
Orthrosanthus monadelphusRavenna - southern Mexico, Central America
Orthrosanthus muelleri Benth. Benth. - Western Australia
Orthrosanthus multiflorus Sweet - Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria
Orthrosanthus occissapungus (Ruiz ex Klatt) Diels - Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina
Orthrosanthus polystachyus Benth. - many-spike orthrosanthus - Western Australia
