they are mainly from africa, but includes members from europe and asia. the rootstock is usually a corm, they have blooms which sometimes have scent are collected in inflorescence and contain six tepals. the nectar is produced mostly in the base of the bloom from the glands of the ovary, which is where the flower forms a tube-like end. in some species there is no such end and the plant only provides pollen to pollinating insects. members of this subfamily have the sword-shaped leaves typical of iridaceae.