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 divaricata is a South African endemic species from the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces where it is usually found in coastal areas. It was previously known as Anthericum divaricatum and is commonly known as Waaibossie in Afrikaans. It grows to 80cm tall with fleshy prostrate leaves. During spring it bears white flowers with green keels.