The Iris family has one genus, Geosiris, with two mycoheterotrophic species. The genus is restricted to rain forest on Madagascar and the Comoros.
FACT SHEET
Classification: Monocots, Asparagales
Genera with mycoheterotrophic species: Geosiris
Diversity: Iridaceae contain over 2,000 species in 66 genera. The family includes two fully mycoheterotrophic species, Geosiris aphylla and G. albiflora.
Distribution and habitat: Iridaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution, with a main center of diversity in southern Africa. They are particularly species-rich in the Cape region . Iridaceae are mainly found in open, seasonable habitats, but also occur in forests, savan- nas, and semi-arid habitats. They grow on a variety of different soil types.
Fungi: The fungi of Geosiris remain to be sequenced, but are most likely arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
Fun fact: Just like the lemurs, Geosiris is restricted to Madagascar and the Comoros.
mycoheterotrophy 