Small Vanilla-lily

Images ©:
©Colleen MillerCC2.5, Giorgio De Nola CC2.5

Arthropodium minus

Small perennial lily with fine, grass-like leaves and purple, vanilla-scented flowers. Flat grass-like bluish leaves usually lax on the ground. Short plump tubers.

Details
Flora Type
Lilies, orchids
Distinctive Features

Anthers with dark purple or white hairs. Tiny delicate plant with bluish waxy leaves hugging the ground.
Biology

Annual. Well-drained soils in full sun or semi-shade. Often shallow rocky soils. Can tolerate dry conditions.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

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

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

The multiple fleshy white tubers were cooked and eaten as food by Aboriginal people. The non-starchy crisp tubers of this species are also palatable without cooking.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native