Milkmaids - native (Burchardia umbellata)

Family: Colchicaceae. It was formerly classified in the lily family (Liliaceae).

Native.

It is common and widespread.

Identification:

• it has appears to have six white petals (made up of 3 sepals and 3 petals)
• the flowers are on short stalks, which radiate from the top of the main stalk
• the paired leaves are long and narrow.

Milkmaids can regenerate prolifically after fire.

Name. Burchardia: after Johann Burckhard, 1784-1817 and J. Heinrich Burckhard,1676-1834 a German doctor; umbellata: from "umbel" a flower arrangement where the flowers are on short, more or less equal stalks that radiate from the top of the main stalk.

Photos 1: Moonambel Cemtery. Milkmaids is a common grassland plant. 2: Kaweka. 3: Hepburn. 4: Porcupine Ridge. Three examples of a forest plant.

Milkmaids at Lauriston following a burn. 1993.