Geosiris aphylla is sometimes called the "earth-iris." It is a small myco-heterotroph lacking chlorophyll and obtaining its nutrients from fungi in the soil. The genus name is derived from the Greek words geos, meaning "earth", and iris, referring to the Iris family of plants.[4]
Its rhizomes are slender and scaly, and stems are simple or branched. The leaves are alternate, but having no use, are reduced and scale-like. The flowers are light purple.
^Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2008). The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 96–98. ISBN978-0-88192-897-6.
^F. P. Jonker, 1939, "Les Géosiridacées, une nouvelle famille de Madagascar" Recueil Trav. Bot. Néerl. 36:473-179
^Arthur Cronquist, An Integrated Systems of Classification of Flowering Plants (Columbia University Press, 1981) p.1236
^Reeves, G; Chase, MW; Goldblatt, P; Rudall, P; Fay, MF; Cox, AV; Lejeune, B; Souza-Chies, T (November 2001). "Molecular systematics of Iridaceae: evidence from four plastid DNA regions". American Journal of Botany. 88 (11): 2074–87. doi:10.2307/3558433. JSTOR3558433. PMID21669639.