Apodolirion is a genus of herbaceous

Herbaceous

A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...

, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae

Amaryllidaceae

Amaryllidoideae is the subfamily of flowering plants that takes its name from the genus Amaryllis. It is part of the family Amaryllidaceae, in order Asparagales...

, subfamily Amaryllidoideae). It consists of 6 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 distributed in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. The name Apodolirion cames from the Greek and means "stemless flower" and describes the fact that these species have almost sessile

Sessility (botany)

In botany, sessility is a characteristic of plants whose flowers or leaves are borne directly from the stem or peduncle, and thus lack a petiole or pedicel...

 flowers.

Species

The list of Apodolirion species, with their complete scientific name, authority, and geographic distribution is given below.

• Apodolirion amyanum D. Muller-Doblies
• Apodolirion bolusii Baker
  John Gilbert Baker
  John Gilbert Baker was an English botanist.Baker was born in Guisborough, the son of John and Mary Baker and educated at Quaker schools in Ackworth and York....
  
  
• Apodolirion buchananii Baker
• Apodolirion cedarbergense D. Muller-Doblies
• Apodolirion lanceolatum (L.f.) Benth.
• Apodolirion macowanii Baker

Uses

A. buchananii (known as "Natal Crocus") is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a small plant with solitary flowers, that bloom in spring.