Arthropodium cirratum (G.Forst.) R.Br.

Renga Lily

Perennial evergreen clump-forming herb with thickened roots. Leaves several, basal, broadly-lanceolate, waxy-green. Inflorescence to about 1 m, stout, bracts leafy. Flowers numerous, several per floral bract, nodding; spring.Tepals to 20 mm long, reflexed-spreading, white (occasionally pale pinkish-purple), anthers yellow, appendages hairy, purple basally, shading to white and with recurved yellow tips.

New Zealand.

A. candidum Raoul from New Zealand is a perennial herb with thickened roots. Leaves several, basal, linear. Inflorescence to about 30 cm, bracts leafy. Flowers numerous, several per floral bract axil, nodding; spring. Tepals to 5 mm long, reflexed-spreading, white, anthers white, appendages hairy, white. 'Maculatum' has dull pinkish leaves with distinct and fine bronze spotting. The most commonly cultivated form of this species.

A. milleflorum (DC.) Macbr., Vanilla Lily from E Australia and Tasmania is a perennial herb with tuberous roots. Leaves several, basal, linear to broadly-linear, green to waxy-green. Inflorescence to about 1.5 m, fine to stout, bracts reduced. Flowers numerous, several per floral bract, pendulous, vanilla-scented; spring. Tepals 5-10 mm long, reflexed-spreading, white, pale pink or greenish bronze, sometimes inner 3 with fimbriate margins; anthers white, yellow or black, appendages hairy, yellow, cream and purple, basally shading to white, or white. As presently understood, this species represents a highly variable complex of about 5 mostly undescribed species, and is the subject of ongoing revision.

A. strictum R. Br., Chocolate Lily from E Australia and Tas is a perennial herb with tuberous roots. Leaves several, basal, linear, green to waxy-green. Inflorescence to about 1.5 m, stout, bracts reduced. Flowers numerous, solitary per floral bract, erect to spreading, chocolate-scented; spring. Tepals to 10 mm long, reflexed to spreading, pink-purple, inner 3 broader; anthers purple, appendages papillate, yellow. Syn. Dichopogon strictus R. Br.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Laxmanniaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Asparagales
family       Asparagaceae
genus        Arthropodium R.Br.