Citation: Burman, Acta Acad. Caes. Leop.Car. 2:199 (1761) subsp. crispa.

Synonymy: F. undulata L., Sp. Pl. edn 2:1353 (1763).

Common name: Black flag.

Description:
Perennial to 60 cm high; corm 2-4 cm diam.; leaves numerous, obtuse, 10-40 cm long, 6-15 mm wide, glaucous, patent, completely coveting the stem and grading into shorter oblong to elliptic bracts.

Spathes oblong-elliptic, keeled, 4-7 cm long, herbaceous with narrow white margins; flowers c. 4 cm diam., fleshy, mottled purplish-black and greenish-grey; perianth-segments lanceolate, acute, 2.3-2.8 mm long, shortly clawed; filaments c. 1 cm long, three-quarters connate; anthers oblong, with parallel cells, dark with orange pollen; style branches c. 8 mm long, divided for about half this length; ovary 1.5-2.5 cm long, beakless.

Published illustration: D. A. Cooke (1986) Fl. Aust. 46:fig. 6.).

Distribution:  Around former gardens and rubbish dumps.   W.Aust.; Vic.   Native to the Cape Province, South Africa. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Sept., Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Uses: Formerly widely cultivated as an ornamental, and locally persisting.

Author: Not yet available