Caesia is a genus of herbs in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, native to Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar and Southern Africa. The mostly 3-lobed seed capsules contain rounded black seeds. The genus was named in honour of Federico Cesi (1585–1630), an Italian scientist.

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Caesia:

• Caesia alpina - alpine grass-lily - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria

• Caesia arcuata

• Caesia calliantha - blue grass-lily - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia

• Caesia capensis - Cape Province of South Africa

• Caesia chlorantha - New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

• Caesia contorta

• Caesia micrantha - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland

• Caesia occidentalis - Western Australia

• Caesia parviflora - pale grass-lily - Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia

• †Caesia rigidifolia - Queen Victoria Springs in Western Australia but extinct. Last recorded near Zanthus in 1875.

• Caesia sabulosa - Cape Province

• Caesia setifera - Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory, New Guinea

• Caesia subulata - Madagascar

• Caesia viscida - Western Australia

• Caesia walalbai

References