Name: geos, meaning "earth", and iris.
Genus: 2 species
Region:
Madagascar.
Botany: mycoheterotrophic, lacking chlorophyl; rhizomes slender and scaly; stems simple or branched; leaves alternate, reduced, scale-like; flowers light purple.
TaxonomyJonker assigned Geosiris to its own family Geosiridaceae in
Orchidales. Cronquist adopted thisd, altough noting that the family was closely related to
Iridaceae or
Burmanniaceae. The
Apg classification placed it in the family
Iridaceae, within the Nivenioideae subfamily.