Late-flowered Flax-lily - native (Dianella tarda)

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

Native.

Other names: Formerly included in D. longifolia.

Occurrence: Scattered.

Identification:

• it forms small, dense tussocks
• the leaves are mostly greenish on both sides
• the leaves are without strongly raised veins, are fairly thick, so that they are held stiffly erect
• the leaves are deeply channelled (V-shaped)
• the flowers do not open until mid-afternoon (and hence tarda meaning tardy)
• the anther appendages are yellow and rather small
• the flowers are pale blue.

The late, afternoon flowering of D. tarda is probably a way to prevent cross-pollination with the earlier-flowering species.

VROTS: vulnerable.