Glaucous Flax-lily - native (Dianella sp. aff. longifolia (Benambra))

Family: Asphodelaceae. Formerly included in the Liliaceae (Lily family).

Native.

Other names: Formerly included in D. longifolia.

Occurrence: Widely scattered.

Identification:

• it forms small, loose tussocks
• the leaves are variably bluish (glaucous) on both sides
• the leaves are without strongly raised veins and are fairly thin, so that they are not held stiffly erect
• the leaves are more or less flat or shallowly V-shaped
• the flowers open early to mid-morning (compared with mid-afternoon for Dianella tarda).
• the anther appendages are bright yellow or orange-yellow.

It differs from the D. tarda in that D. tarda has small dense tussocks, deeply channeled (V-shaped) leaves which are stiffly erect, and which has flowers that open in mid-afternoon.

VROTS: vulnerable. Listed under the Fauna and Flora Guarantee Act.