Iphigenia (plant)

Iphigenia is a flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. It was described by Kunth. It consists of 11 species distributed from tropical Africa, over Madagascar and India to Australia. As with other taxa in Colchicaceae Iphigenia contains phenethylisoquinoline alkaloids including colchicine.

Species

African species

Iphigenia oliveri Engl.Iphigenia pauciflora Martelli

Arabian species

Iphigenia socotrana Thulin

Indian species

Iphigenia devrukhensis Iphigenia indica A.Gray ex Kunth - range extending to China, New Guinea + AustraliaIphigenia magnifica Ansari & R.S.RaoIphigenia mysorensis Arekal & S.N.RamaswamyIphigenia pallida BakerIphigenia ratnagirica Iphigenia sahyadrica Ansari & R.S.RaoIphigenia stellata Blatt.

Madagascar species

Iphigenia boinensis H.PerrierIphigenia robusta Baker

New Zealand species

Iphigenia novae-zelandiae Baker

Taxonomy

The genus name of Iphigenia is in reference to Iphigenia, the Greek mythological character, who was a daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, and such was a princess of Mycenae.