Common name: Alpine Grass-lily
Caesia alpina Hook.f. APNI* Synonyms: Chlorophytum alpinum (Hook.f.) Benth. ex Baker APNI*
Description: Tufted, glabrous herbaceous perennial; rhizome branched; roots fleshy-fibrous.
Leaves to c. 15 cm long; lamina 1–2 mm wide; sheath papery.
Inflorescence to c. 10 cm long; axis slender, simple or occasionally 1-branched; lower bracts to 5 cm long; flowers in clusters of 1–4, the lowest subtended by leaf-like bracts to 5 cm long; upper bracts broad-ovate to subulate, to 2.5 mm long; pedicels slender, to 5 mm long. Tepals elliptic, 3–4.5 mm long, greenish white. Stamens to 2 mm long; anthers 0.8 mm long; filaments broadly flattened below.
Capsule strongly lobed, to 6.5 mm diam.; seeds c. 2 mm diam., granulate, dull.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in moist granite-derived soils; south from Cathedral Rock N.P.
NSW subdivisions: NT, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas.
Text by S. McCune & D. W. Hardin
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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