Family: Iridaceae
Sisyrinchium iridifolium
Citation:
Kunth in Humb., Nov. Oen. 1:324 (1816).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Blue pigroot, striped rush-leaf.
Description:
Grass-like glabrous perennial herb, sometimes growing as an annual; rhizome short; stems flattened to winged, often branched, jointed, 10-60 cm high; leaves linear-ensiform, erect, 5-20 cm long, 1.5-5 mm wide.
Spathes narrowly lanceolate with abruptly contracted apices, in subequal pairs 1.5-5 cm long, 2-5-flowered; bracteoles concealed, hyaline; perianth 1-2 cm diam., white to cream with a blue or purple centre; segments all similar, oblong, acute to acuminate; stamens exceeding the style branches; filaments forming a tube 2-3 mm long, dilated and papillose at the base; anthers c. 1.5 mm long; ovary 1-2 mm diam., purplish, minutely pubescent.
Capsule 3-6 mm diam., brown, glabrous; seeds c. 1 mm diam., dark-brown, pitted.
Published illustration:
Healy & Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand 3:fig. 22A-D).
Distribution:
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A weed of gardens and unsown pastures.
Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Native to South America and Mexico.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Nov. — Dec.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
A common weed in the high rainfall areas of the eastern States, but as yet recorded from only a few localities in this State.
Author:
Not yet available
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