Hypoxidaceae - African potato family

Herbaceous geophytes, with rhizomes (Curculigo) or corms (Hypoxis). Leaves basal, arranged one above another in 3 vertical rows; lamina linear to lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate to ovate, parallel-veined, ± pubescent. Inflorescence racemose, corymbose or with flowers solitary. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, 3-merous, epigynous. Perianth with 6 segments, yellowish on the adaxial side, greenish or purplish-streaked outside. Stamens 6; anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, 3-locular. Fruit a berry (Curculigo) or a capsule (Hypoxis).

Worldwide: 8 genera and 220 species, southern hemisphere.

Malawi: 2 genera and 11 taxa.