Trimezia

Trimezia
Trimezia steyermarkii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Iridoideae
Tribe: Trimezieae
Genus: Trimezia
Salisb. ex Herb.
Type species
Trimezia meridensis
Herb.
Synonyms
  • Anomalostylus R.C.Foster
  • Cypella Klatt
  • Deluciris A.Gil & Lovo
  • Galathea Liebm.
  • Lansbergia de Vriese
  • Marica Ker Gawl.
  • Neomarica Sprague
  • Poarchon Allemão
  • Pseudiris Chukr & A.Gil
  • Pseudotrimezia R.C.Foster
  • Remaclea C.Morren
  • Xanthocromyon H.Karst.

Trimezia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, native to the warmer parts of southern Mexico, Central America, South America, Florida, and the West Indies. Trimezia is placed in the tribe Trimezieae. The division of the tribe into genera has varied considerably. In one approach, it contains only the genus Trimezia, which then includes the genera Neomarica, Pseudotrimezia and Pseudiris. In other approaches, two to five genera are recognized, sometimes also including the genus Deluciris.

The English names walking iris, apostle's iris and apostle plant have been used for many species, regardless of the generic placement (e.g. for Trimezia gracilis, syn. Neomarica gracilis). New plantlets form at the end of the flower spikes; after flowering, the spikes fall over and a new plant grows, so the plant "walks". Names including "apostle" refer to the incorrect belief that plants do not flower until 12 or more leaves are present.