Arching Flax-Lily

Images ©:
©Arching Flax Lily - Reto Zollinger, © Arching Flax Lily - Russell Best via NatureShare, © Arching Flax Lily - Russell Best via NatureShare, © Arching Flax Lily - Gary Clark, © Arching Flax Lily - Gary Clark

Dianella longifolia var. grandis

A tufted perennial lily with arching green leaves to 60 cm long. The fruit is green when immature and blue when ripe. Flower stem to 1 m tall with numerous pale blue flowers held on stems well above the leaves.

Details
Flora Type
Lilies, orchids
Former Scientific Name
Dianella sp. aff. longifolia (Benambra)
Distinctive Features

Leaves mostly straight, thin-textured with reddish stems. They dry off in summer. They have a prominent central rib, and are arranged in fans.
Biology

Perennial. Rocky outcrops in open forest
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Oct-Dec
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Asparagales
Family
Hemerocallidaceae
Genus
Dianella
Species
longiflora

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

The leaf fibres were used, fruits eaten raw and the roots pounded and cooked on hot rocks by Aboriginal people. Threats include habitat loss and degradation and weed invasion.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

0
Native Status
Native