Tufted to spreading herb to 1.5 m from a short to elongated rhizome. Stems, if present, less than 10 cm. Leaves several, spreading, broadly linear, margins finely toothed, recurved. Inflorescence an erect, cymose panicle, within or exceeding the foliage. Flowers numerous, in clusters, spreading or nodding, to 18 mm wide; spring. Tepals lavender to violet. Anthers pale yellow, stamen appendages golden yellow. Berry 1-2.5 cm long, ovoid.
Widespread in southern Australia.
D. atraxis R.J.F. Hend., Dark Flax Lily from NE Qld is a clump-forming herb to 1 m high from a short rhizome. Stems stout, clustered, to 30 cm tall. Leaves several, erect-spreading, broadly linear, margins flat, irregularly fine-toothed. Inflorescence an erect, dark purple cymose panicle. Flowers numerous, in clusters, spreading, to 10 mm wide; spring. Tepals violet to dark blue. Anthers red-brown, stamen appendages yellow. Berry 6-8 mm long, rounded. Sometimes grown as a garden ornamental in moist shady places, with potential as a decorative indoor plant. The suggested common name refers to the dark-coloured inflorescence stalks.
Source: (2005). Hemerocallidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.