Members of the genus Xyris are widespread in the area covered by Flora Zambesiaca (Botswana, Namibia (Caprivi Strip), Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe). They occur mainly in permanently or seasonally wet places, often on very nutrientpoor pale sandy soils, where they may be a prominent component of the vegetation. Their apparently simple structure and the general similarity between many of the species has led to difficulties in identification and a lack of understanding of the distribution of the taxa.