Melianthus

Melianthus
M. major
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Geraniales
Family: Francoaceae
Genus: Melianthus
L.
Species

See text

Synonyms

Diplerisma Planch.

Melianthus is a genus of flowering plants native to elevated grassland in South Africa, Lesotho, and Namibia. A common name for these plants is honey flower, which is also the English translation of the Latin name. This name also attaches to the species M. comosus and M. major that are found in cultivation.

The genus contains up to six species of evergreen shrubs. They have large pinnate leaves with prominent stipules, and erect racemes of nectar-rich flowers. The vegetative parts are very toxic.