subfamily nivenioideae contains six genera from south africa, australia and madagascar, including the only true shrubs in the family ("klattia", "nivenia" and "witsenia") as well as the only myco-heterotroph ("geosiris"). "aristea" is also a member of this subfamily. it is distinguished by having flowers in small, paired clusters among large bracts, slender styles that are divided into three slender branches and nectar (when present) produced from glands in the ovary walls. the flowers are always radially symmetrical, with separate tepals (petals) and the rootstock is a rhizome.