Genus: Nivenia

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales > Family: Iridaceae

The 10 species are endemic to the Western Cape.

The long tubed flowers are adapted for pollination by bees and long-proboscid flies (Nemestrinidae: Prosoeca) (Goldblatt & Manning 2000; Goldblatt & Bernhardt 1990).

Species native to southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI).

Nivenia argentea
Nivenia binata
Nivenia concinna
Nivenia corymbosa
Nivenia dispar
Nivenia fruticosa
Nivenia inaequalis
Nivenia levynsiae
Nivenia parviflora
Nivenia stenosiphon
Nivenia stokoei

Publications

• Goldblatt, P. 1993. The Woody Iridaceae: Systematics, Biology and Evolution of Nivenia, Klattia and Witsenia. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.

• Goldblatt, P. & Bernhardt, P. 1990. Pollination biology of Nivenia (Iridaceae) and the presence of heterostylous self-compatibility. Israel Journal of Botany 39: 93-111.

• Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J.C. 2000. Iridaceae. In: In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 623-638. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.