Hesperantha is a cormous genus in the Iridaceae family with 79 species. Four are found in tropical Africa, 37 in summer-rainfall southern Africa, and 42 in winter-rainfall southern Africa. Many of the former are found in the eastern southern African Drakensberg in Kwa Zulu-Natal. Most plants are short, 15 to 20 cm. tall or less. A number of them open late in the afternoon or early evening and those are often very fragrant.

Hesperantha oligantha is very a rare South African endemic species from the Northern Cape Provinces succulent Karoo. It has a very limited distribution and is only found growing on the Hantamsberg Mountain where it is threatened by overgrazing. An assessment done in 2007 found that there were less than 30 mature plants left in nature. It grows to 10cm tall with linear to falcate leaves. During spring it bears dark purple flowers with pale throats.