Trachyandra is placed in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. The name Trachyandra is derived from the Greek words, trachy, meaning rough, and andro, meaning male, and refers to the scabrid (hairy) filaments of the stamens. There are ± 55 species that mainly occur in southern Africa, particularly the Western Cape, but some species extend into tropical Africa as far as Somalia. They are mostly perennial bulbous plants.

Trachyandra hirsuta is a South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province. It was previously known as Anthericum hirsutum and Trachyandra corymbosa. It grows to 60cm tall with several leaves. During spring it bears white flowers which are followed by hairy seed pods.