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.
| Blue tinsel lily | |
|---|---|
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| C. grandiflora at Mount Barker. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Dasypogonaceae |
| Genus: | Calectasia |
| Species: | C. grandiflora
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| Binomial name | |
| Calectasia grandiflora | |
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Description
editCalectasia 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
editCalectasia 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
editBlue 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.[2]
Conservation status
editCalectasia grandiflora is not threatened at present.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d 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". Nuytsia. 13 (3): 426–427. doi:10.58828/nuy00346. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Spooner, Amanda. "Florabase: The Western Australia Flora - Calectasia grandiflora". Retrieved 18 February 2015.