Citation: J. Mathews & L. Bolus, Ann. Bol. Herb. 3:140 (1922).

Synonymy: W. meriana sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 202 (1943), non (L.) Miller.

Common name: Bulbil watsonia, wild watsonia, bugle lily.

Description:
Perennial 1-2 m high, forming large dense stands; corm 4-8 cm diam.; leaves 50-80 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide, glabrous, with a prominent mid-vein; stem with a few reduced leaves.

Spike simple or with few branches, loose, 20-40 cm long; spathes 1.8-2.3 cm long, herbaceous with a red-brown scarious distal portion; bulbils in globose clusters of 4-12 in the lower spathes of the spike; flowers zygomorphic, brick-red to salmon-pink; perianth tube 3.5-4.5 cm long, narrow at the base, curved and expanded into a cylindrical portion 2.5-3 cm long, c. 7 mm diam.; lobes oblong to obovate, acute or apiculate, subequal, 1.8-2.5 cm long, 1.2-1.4cm wide, the uppermost hooded over the anthers; stamens unilateral; anthers c. 10 mm long, purplish, slightly exserted; style branches c. 5 mm long, slightly exserted, 2-fid.

Capsule not produced.

Published illustration: Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, p. 176.

Distribution:  Locally abundant on roadsides, pastures and waste land.   All States except the N.T.   Native to the Cape Province, South Africa. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Oct. — Dec.

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

Biology: A proclaimed noxious weed in most States; can be a serious pest in pastures but does not invade arable land or native vegetation.

Author: Not yet available