Dianella amoena

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Dianella amoena
Dianella amoena (24702409710).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Hemerocallidoideae
Genus: Dianella
Species:
D. amoena
Binomial name
Dianella amoena
G.W.Carr & P.F.Horsfall

Dianella amoena, commonly known as the matted flax-lily, is an endangered, herbaceous, perennial plant endemic to Australia. [1] [2] [3] It belongs to the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. It has long grey-green leaves which grow in clumps from an underground rhizome, and displays blue-purple flowers in spring-summer, up to 90cm in height. [1] The common name Matted Flax-lily refers to its extensively rhizomatous nature, sometimes forming large mats up to 5m wide. [1]

Contents

Description

The slender, grey-green leaves of Dianella amoena have a V-shaped cross section, and generally exhibit peg-like projections or “teeth” along the leaf midrib and margins. [1] It is clonal, meaning one plant or colony consists of multiple genetically identical ramets connected via a rhizome, and it is capable of both vegetative (asexual), and sexual reproduction. [1] Shoots can appear up to 30cm apart along rhizomes, but usually less. [1] Inflorescences are 20-90cm high and consist of a slender scape with fragrant flowers with blue-purple tepals and yellow stamens, which develop into dark blue-purple fruits following buzz pollination by native bees. [1] It is partially summer deciduous when water stressed, but can flower from October to April in favourable conditions. [4] [1]

Taxonomy

Dianella amoena was first described in 1995 by G.W Carr and P.F. Horsfall. [1] Before being formally described, known populations were referred to as Dianella. sp. nov. (Nutfield). [1] Its specific epithet comes from the Latin amoenus, meaning beautiful or pleasing. [1] This is in reference to the plant's appearance, particularly the fragrant, colourful flowers which are in the upper size range for Dianella. [1]

A phylogenetic study of Dianella taxa using combined chloroplast DNA and nuclear DNA placed Dianella amoena samples among some members of the Dianella longifolia species complex and Dianella tarda , Dianella porracea , and Dianella crinoides , suggesting these taxa to be its closer relatives in the genus. [5] However, many nodes in the molecular phylogeny were poorly supported. [5] Further molecular and morphological research was suggested to resolve relationships among these taxa, and no taxonomic changes were advised. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Dianella amoena inhabits grassland and grassy woodland ecosystems, often on volcanic soils. [1] It has a sparse distribution across south-eastern Australia, mostly in the states of Victoria and Tasmania, with some records extending the range into New South Wales. [6] [7] The species exists in small fragments of its original range in roadsides, railways, and urban nature reserves, often in degraded habitats. [1] [4] Recruitment is believed to be non-existent, but it is long-lived and persists in remnant clonal patches. [1]

Conservation

Dianella amoena is listed as "Endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 federal legislation. [8] It is listed as "Critically Endangered" under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 state legislation in Victoria, [9] and "Rare" under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 state legislation in Tasmania. [8] The main threats to the species are weed invasion, habitat disturbance, mowing and grazing. [4] A recovery plan was prepared in 2010, and estimated 1,400 plants remained over 120 locations, however the plan considered Dianella amoena endemic to Victoria as records outside of Victoria were limited at the time. [4] A more recent population estimate considering the entire range of the species is unavailable. The extensively rhizomatous nature of the species makes accurate population estimation difficult, as genetically distinct plants cannot be easily distinguished. [4] The species has also been subject to numerous translocations, both for conservation and development mitigation purposes, which may have impacted total population size. [10] [8] [4]

Uses

Some plants in the Dianella genus have edible fruits, [11] while others are considered poisonous. [12] [13] Aboriginal peoples ate the fruits of some Dianella species historically, and used the leaves for weaving. [14] [11] Information regarding Dianella amoena specifically is unavailable as it has only been formally recognised since 1995.

Related Research Articles

<i>Iris</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae

Iris is a flowering plant genus of 310 accepted species with showy flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is flags, while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as junos, particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower.

<i>Nymphaea</i> Genus of aquatic plants

Nymphaea is a genus of hardy and tender aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and many cultivars have been bred. Some taxa occur as introduced species where they are not native, and some are weeds. Plants of the genus are known commonly as water lilies, or waterlilies in the United Kingdom. The genus name is from the Greek νυμφαία, nymphaia and the Latin nymphaea, which mean "water lily" and were inspired by the nymphs of Greek and Latin mythology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asphodelaceae</span> Family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales

Asphodelaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription has varied widely. In its current circumscription in the APG IV system, it includes about 40 genera and 900 known species. The type genus is Asphodelus.

<i>Dianella</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Dianella is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the monocot family Asphodelaceae, commonly known as flax lilies. Plants in this genus are tufted herbs with more or less linear leaves and bisexual flowers with three sepals more or less similar to three petals and a superior ovary, the fruit a berry. They occur in Africa, South-east Asia, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia.

<i>Dianella tasmanica</i> Species of flowering plant

Dianella tasmanica, commonly known as the Tasman flax-lily or Tasmanian flax-lily is a herbaceous strappy perennial herb of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, found in southeastern Australia including Tasmania. It has leaves to 80 cm, and a flower stem to 1.5 m. Blue flowers in spring and summer are followed by violet berries. It adapts readily to cultivation and is commonly seen in Australian gardens. Unlike other Dianella species, its fruit is toxic.

<i>Dianella caerulea</i> Species of flowering plant

Dianella caerulea, commonly known as the blue flax-lily, blueberry lily, or paroo lily, is a perennial herb of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, found across the eastern states of Australia and Tasmania. It is a herbaceous strappy perennial plant to a metre high, with dark green blade-like leaves to 70 cm long. Blue flowers in spring and summer are followed by indigo-coloured berries. It adapts readily to cultivation and is commonly seen in Australian gardens and amenities plantings.

<i>Stypandra</i> Species of plant

Stypandra is a small genus of rhizomatous perennials in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. They are native to Australia and New Caledonia.

<i>Caesia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Caesia is a genus of herbs in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, native to Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar and Southern Africa. The mostly 3-lobed seed capsules contain rounded black seeds. The genus was named in honour of Federico Cesi (1585-1630), an Italian scientist.

<i>Dianella revoluta</i> Species of flowering plant

Dianella revoluta, commonly known as blueberry lily, blue flax-lily, or black-anther flax-lily, a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae and is endemic to, and widespread in Australia. It is a tufted, perennial herb with grass-like leaves and up to nine blue or violet flowers with six tepals, and stamens with bright yellow filaments and pale brown to almost black anthers.

<i>Caesia parviflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Caesia parviflora, the pale grass lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, native to Australia, being found in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Herpolirion is a genus of perennial herbs in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. The sole species is Herpolirion novae-zelandiae, commonly known as sky lily. It is native to New Zealand as well as the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia.

<i>Dianella brevicaulis</i> Species of flowering plant

Dianella brevicaulis, commonly known as the coast flax-lily, is a tufted, rhizomatous, perennial herb with fibrous roots and blue-purple flowers. Its long leaves form a soft, green tussock which conceal the flowering stems. It grows to 0.5 m in height and prefers sandy soils to quite far inland. It is native to southern Australia where it is usually found in coastal and subcoastal habitats and sandy inland ranges.

<i>Phormium</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae

Phormium is a genus of two plant species in the family Asphodelaceae. One species is endemic to New Zealand and the other is native to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. The two species are widely known in New Zealand as flax or their Māori names wharariki and harakeke respectively, and elsewhere as New Zealand flax or flax lily, but they are not closely related to the Northern Hemisphere's flax, which is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and has been used by humans since 30,000 B.C.

<i>Gloriosa superba</i> Species of plant

Gloriosa superba is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. Common names include flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, gloriosa lily, tiger claw, agnishikha and fire lily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue lily</span> Index of plants with the same common name

Blue lily may refer to the following plant species:

<i>Dianella longifolia</i> Perennial herb

Dianella longifolia, commonly known as blueberry lily, pale flax lily or smooth flax lily, or blue flax-lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae and is endemic to non-arid areas of Australia. It is a tufted, rhizomatous, perennial herb with grass-like leaves, pale blue, white or greenish flowers that have pale yellow anthers, and shiny, pale blue berries.

<i>Tricoryne elatior</i> Species of plant

Tricoryne elatior is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae, native to Australia, and found in all its states and territories.

Dianella brevipedunculata is a species of flax lily native to Eastern Australia. It is known as the blue flax lily.

<i>Dianella ensifolia</i> Species of flax lily

Dianella ensifolia is a flowering plant, of the family Asphodelaceae. It is native to southern China, India, Japan, Madagascar, Malesia, the Pacific Islands, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and tropical Asia. Its common names include umbrella dracaena, common dianella, siak-siak, and flax lily.

<i>Corynotheca licrota</i> Species of flowering plant

Corynotheca licrota, otherwise known as the antler zig-zag lily, club-fruit lily, or sand lily, is a perennial herbaceous member of the family Asphodelaceae and is found in arid inland areas of Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Carr, G.W.; Horsfall, P.F. (1995). "Studies in Phormiaceae (Liliaceae) 1: New species and combinations in Dianella Lam. ex Juss". Muelleria. 8 (3): 365–378. doi: 10.5962/p.198465 . S2CID   251005329.
  2. ↑ "Taxonomy browser (Dianella amoena)". www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Center for Biotechnology Information . Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  3. ↑ "Dianella amoena G.W.Carr & P.F.Horsfall". www.gbif.org. GBIF . Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Carter, O. (2010). National recovery plan for the Matted Flax-lily Dianella amoena. Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment.
  5. 1 2 3 Muscat, K.M.; Ladiges, P.Y.; Bayly, M.J. (2019). "Molecular phylogenetic relationships reveal taxonomic and biogeographic clades in Dianella (flax lilies; Asphodelaceae, Hemerocallidoideae)". Systematics and Biodiversity. 17 (3): 308–329. doi:10.1080/14772000.2019.1607617. ISSN   1477-2000. S2CID   196674565.
  6. ↑ "Occurrence records. Species: Dianella amoena". The Australasian Virtual Herbarium (AVH). Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  7. ↑ "Dianella amoena G.W.Carr & P.F.Horsfall". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  8. 1 2 3 "Dianella amoena — Matted Flax-lily". Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Species Profile and Threats Database. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  9. ↑ State Government of Victoria (2022-01-10). "Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act Threatened List". State Government of Victoria. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  10. ↑ Silcock, J.L.; Simmons, C.L.; Monks, L.; Dillon, R.; Reiter, N.; Jusaitis, M.; Vesk, P.A.; Byrne, M.; Coates, D.J. (2019). "Threatened plant translocation in Australia: A review". Biological Conservation. 236: 211–222. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.05.002. hdl: 1885/216628 . S2CID   195381364.
  11. 1 2 Low, T. (1991). Wild food plants of Australia. North Ryde, NSW: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN   0-207-16930-6.
  12. ↑ "Blue flax lily (Dianella) | Queensland Poisons Information Centre". Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  13. ↑ "Garden plants poisonous to people" (PDF). NSW Department of Primary Industries. 2006. ISSN   1832-6668 . Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  14. ↑ Clarke, P.A. (2014). Discovering Aboriginal Plant Use: The Journeys of an Australian Anthropologist. Kenthurst, NSW.: Rosenberg Publishing. ISBN   978-1-925078-35-0.
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