Aristea

Aristea is a genus of evergreen perennials, growing from rhizomes that vary in length. This African genus of flowering plants forms part of the Iridaceae family. 

Aristea leaves mostly grow in crowded clusters of basal fans. The leaves are lanceolate, linear or terete (cylindrical), fibrous and without midribs.

The stems are simple or branched, rounded or compressed, two-sided or winged, bearing reduced leaves or leafless except for a small one near the tip.

The flower clusters are borne in two series or reduced to just one or two. Floral bracts are brown or green, membranous or thin and dry within variable spathes. The radially symmetric, star-shaped flowers are often stalkless, coloured blue in variable shades, mauve or white.

The plants display much variation in their pollen, capsules and seeds. The flowers tend to open in the early morning, fading after noon and not lasting beyond a day.

The stamens are erect and free, the anthers oblong to linear. The ovary is oblong or ovoid, positioned between bracts. The style is flexed to the side, topped by a thread-like stigma that is three-lobed or notched. The fruit capsule is ovoid or oblong, three-sided or cylindrical.

The Aristea genus consists of about 55 species. Their widest representation is in southern Africa; 45 species occur in South Africa and 7 on Madagascar with outliers in Senegal and Ethiopia. 

Suitable habitats include high summer rainfall on grassy highlands, rocky outcrops and marshes. Some species favour winter rainfall, montane sandstone habitats, while some flower profusely after fire. Bees visit these flowers much for their pollen. Some species in the southwestern Cape bearing darkly marked flowers are pollinated by monkey beetles. One species produces nectar (Manning, 2009; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000).