''Romulea'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the family

Iridaceae Iridaceae () is a family of plants in order Asparagales, taking its name from the Iris (plant), irises. It has a nearly global distribution, with 69 accepted genera with a total of about 2500 species. It includes a number of economically importan ...

, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

, the

Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...

, and Africa.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref>Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Romulea
includes photos plus European distribution maps

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Species of ''Romulea'' are perennial cormous herbs.

Generative characteristics

The capsule fruits bear many brown, globose seeds.

Etymology

The genus name refers to the legendary founder of

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Romulus Romulus (, ) was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus and his contemporaries. Although many of th ...

, and alludes to the abundance of one of the species in the Roman countryside.''Romulea'' Maratti. (n.d.). Flora of North America. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from http://floranorthamerica.org/Romulea

Taxonomy

Publication

''Romulea'' Maratti was published by Giovanni Francesco Maratti (1704-1777) in 1772. It is a

conserved name A conserved name or ''nomen conservandum'' (plural ''nomina conservanda'', abbreviated as ''nom. cons.'') is a scientific name that has specific nomenclatural protection. That is, the name is retained, even though it violates one or more rules wh ...

.Maratti, Giovanni Francesco , International Plant Names Index. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.ipni.org/a/6084-1

Accepted species

; Species * ''

Romulea albiflora ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea albomarginata ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea antiatlantica'' Maire - Morocco * '' Romulea aquatica'' G.J.Lewis - Cape Province of South Africa * ''

Romulea arnaudii ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea atranda ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea austinii ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea autumnalis ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea barkerae'' M.P.de Vos - Cape Province of South Africa * ''

Romulea biflora ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea bifrons ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea bocchierii ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.Romulea bulbocodium ''Romulea bulbocodium'' is one of the best-known species from the genus ''Romulea''. The plant, a member of the family Iridaceae, is native to the Mediterranean region (southern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East) and Sudan.Romulea camerooniana ''Romulea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1772. It is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.