[1] This genus is named after the botanist Frederick Ziervogel Van der Merwe (1894–1968), who worked on this group.

[3][4] Species of Merwilla grow from relatively large bulbs, the upper part of which is usually above ground.

[6] The genus Merwilla was created by Franz Speta in 1998 for some species formerly included in Scilla.

[7] The genus is placed in the tribe Hyacintheae (or the subfamily Hyacinthoideae by those who use the family Hyacinthaceae).

[6] As of April 2013[update], the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognized the following species.