Black-anther Flax-lily Nadiah Roslan

Black-anther Flax-lily

Also known as Blueberry Lily, a long, feathery shrub with flowers sticking up above the leaves.

Long green pointy leaves with vibrant blue to purple inflorescences (flower clusters). Grows up to 1.5 m high.

Leaves

Long, feathery, smooth green leaves. 15 - 85 cm long with 4 - 15 mm width. Pointy ends and long and stiff throughout. Can sometimes appear red towards base but this is rare.

Flowers

Flowers stick up above the leaves, consisting of 6 purple petals (7 - 12 mm length) and 6 stamens (pollen-bearing part of the flower) in a ring. These are long, thick and have brown to black tips with yellow stems.

Fruits/Seeds

Fruit is blue to purple and 4 - 10 mm in diameter with 3 - 4 shiny black seeds that persist months after flowering.

Field Guide

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Species: WhatToObserve Image

What to Observe

  • First fully open single flower

  • Full flowering (record all days)

  • End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)

  • No flowering

  • Fruits/seeds (record all days)

Species: WhenAndWhere Image

When and Where

When To Look

  • Flowering occurs from Spring to Summer
  • Fruit occurs many months after flowering

Where To Look

  • Found in all states except the Northern Territory
  • Widespread but common in sclerophyll forest and woodlands
Species: WhatElse Image

What Else?

Similar Species

Nodding Blue Lily (Stypandra glauca) has similar flowers, later in season and its leaves form a massive clump.