Chocolate Lily

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Chocolate Lily - Colleen Miller | Chocolate Lily - Colleen Miller | Chocolate Lily - Elspeth Swan | Chocolate Lily - Reto Zollinger | Chocolate Lily - Cathy Powers

Arthropodium strictum

Flower stem to 1.2 m tall, usually branched. Flower stems to 10 cm tall with 2-3 delicate drooping pink or mauve flowers which are solitary in leaf axils. Three crinkled petals and three narrower sepals to 14 mm long. Fine flat grass-like bluish leaves in a tuft at the base. Globular seed capsule has three compartments when broken.

Details
Flora Type
Lilies, orchids
Former Scientific Name
Dichopogon strictus
Distinctive Features

Single flowers arise from a small leaflike bract on the flowerstems. Flowers are usually erect with a chocolate scent. They are distinguished by hairless purple stamens with a yellow base.
Biology

Perennial. Moist, well-drained and often rocky sites. Full sun or semi shade. Most lilies regenerate each year from tubers or tuberous root stock.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Oct-Dec
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Asparagales
Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Arthropodium
Species
strictum

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Chocolate lilies have a characteristic chocolate scent. The multiple fleshy white tubers were cooked and eaten as food by Aboriginal people. They are also palatable without cooking. Listed as threatened in Tas.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

0
Native Status
Native