1. Hypoxis L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 986 (1759).
Taxon Description
Slender herbs, up to 10 cm. Rhizome globose to elongate, mostly unbranched, usually covered with fibrous remnants of old leaves, roots fleshy. Leaves numerous, sessile, blade linear, sub-coriaceous, pilose. Scapes erect, very short. Inflorescence 1-2-flowered. Bracts linear or obsolete. Flowers bisexual. Tepals 6, yellow, free, persistent. Stamens adnate, anthers erect, dorsifixed or basifixed, equal or subequal to tepals. Fruit a dehiscent capsule. Seeds numerous, globose.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 95 species in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia. One species in Nepal
1. Hypoxis aurea Lour., Fl. Cochinch.1: 200 (1790).
Curculigo graminifolia Nimmo; Hypoxis minor D.Don; Hypoxis curculigoides Wall., nom. nud.
Rhizome globose to elongate, up to 1 cm across. Leaves 3–12, linear, 4–32 X 0.2–0.4 cm, apex acute, margin entire, base tapering, sessile, leaves spreading. Scapes 2–15 cm long, slender, pale brown pilose. Bracts 2, setaceous, small. Pedicel short. Tepals oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, 6–8 X 2–2.4 mm, entire, densely pilose. Stamens 6, free, bright yellow, anthers sagittate to slightly oblong, up to 2 mm, filaments subequal to or sometimes longer than anthers, slightly tapering towards apex. Stigma stout, distinct or connate, orange-yellow, style short, columnar, ovary clavate, 0.3–0.6 cm, pilose. Capsule oblong, clavate, ca. 0.5–1 cm, with crown of persistent tepals. Seeds numerous, globose, dark brown/black, finely tuberculate.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia, and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1200–3000 m.
Ecology: In open fields, along paths and in open grasslands.
Flowering: May–July. Fruiting: August–October.
Whole plant used medicinally.