Drimia

Drimia species are usually deciduous, more rarely evergreen, growing from bulbs. The bulbs may be underground or occur on or near the surface. Each bulb has one to several leaves that are often dry by the time the flowers open. The inflorescence is in the form of a raceme, with one to many flowers. At least the lower inflorescence bracts have spurs (a characteristic of the tribe Urgineeae). The individual flowers generally last for only one to two days and have white to yellowish green or brown tepals that are either free or joined into a basal tube. The tepals often have a darker central keel. After fertilization, an ovoid capsule forms with several seeds in each locule. The seeds are black and winged. ==Taxonomy==

A formal description of genus Drimia first appeared in the fourth edition of Species Plantarum, published in 1799, authored by Carl Ludwig Willdenow. The name was attributed to Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin. The boundaries between genera within the Scilloideae are not completely settled. • Rhodocodon apiculatus H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon calcicola Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon campanulatus Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon cyathiformis H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon floribundus H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon graciliscapus Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon intermedius H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon linearifolius Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon monophyllus Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig • Rhodocodon rotundus H.Perrier ex Knirsch, Mart.-Azorín & Wetschnig ==Distribution and habitat==

The broadly defined genus has about 130 species found in Africa, including Madagascar, the Mediterranean region and southern Asia. About half of all the species occur in southern Africa, where species diversity is greatest in semi-arid regions with winter rainfall. Drimia generally is found in regions with seasonal dryness. ==References==