Calectasia grandiflora
Blue tinsel lily | |
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C. grandiflora at Mount Barker. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
(unranked): | Commelinids |
Order: | Arecales |
Family: | Dasypogonaceae |
Genus: | Calectasia |
Species: | C. grandiflora |
Binomial name | |
Calectasia grandiflora L.Preiss | |
Calectasia grandiflora, commonly known as the blue tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a perennial herb endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It flowers in spring.
Description
Calectasia grandiflora is a rhizomatous perennial herb growing to a height of about 60 cm (24 in). The stems have many side branches and bear leaves 5.2–16.5 x 0.4–1.2 mm. The six petals are blue but turn red as they age; the central anthers are yellow and do not change colour as they age, unlike those of some other Calectasia species.[1] Flowers appear from June to October (Winter and Spring) overall,[2] though earlier in Perth than in the wheatbelt and Stirling Ranges.[1]
Taxonomy and naming
Calectasia grandiflora is one of eleven species in the genus Calectasia. It was first described by Ludwig Preiss in Plantae Preissianae in 1846.[3] The specific epithet (grandiflorum) is from the Latin grandis = great and floris = flower referring to the flowers that are relatively large compared to those of the similar C. narragara.[1] It is commonly called the blue tinsel lily.[4] "Large-flowered tinsel lily" has been proposed as an alternate common name to distinguish it from other members of the genus.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Blue tinsel lily grows on sand, sandy clay, gravel, laterite and granite in swampy areas and on rock outcrops, flats, slopes and ridges.[5] It is endemic to the south-western corner of Western Australia, occurring in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions.[6]
Conservation status
Calectasia grandiflora is not threatened at present.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Barrett, Russell L.; Dixon, Kingsley W. (8 January 2001). "A revision of the genus Calectasia (Calectasiaceae) with eight new species described from south-west Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 13 (3): 426–427. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 58. ISBN 0646402439.
- ↑ Preiss, Ludwig (1846). "Calectasieae". Plantae Preissianae. 2: 53. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ "Calectasia grandiflora". APNI. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- 1 2 Spooner, Amanda. "Florabase: The Western Australia Flora - Calectasia grandiflora". Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 58. ISBN 0646402439.