Flora of the Pilliga Forests: Stypandra glauca

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Stypandra glauca

Stypandra glauca

Family: Phormiaceae

Common name: Nodding Blue Lily

Flower and fruit: Flowers are deep blue, about 20mm across, with 6 stamens and yellow bearded filaments. Flowers are borne on nodding stalks in branching clusters at the ends of the stems. Fruit is a green three-valved capsule turning blue/purple when mature. Flowering Jul to Sep.

Leaves: Bluish-green leaves are stem-clasping, 5 to 20cm long, up to 10mm wide, smooth, and arranged alternately up the stem.

Habit and habitat: A tufted perennial herb up to a metre wide at the base and up to 1.5m high growing in sclerophyll forest and grassy woodland.

Alternate, stem-clasping leaves of Stypandra glauca

Fruit is green first, turning deep blue/purple

Habit and typical habitat of Stypandra glauca in The Pilliga

The Pilliga Forest is the largest remaining continuous remnant of semi-arid woodland in NSW, consisting of about 500,000 hectares of public bushland. The environment changes from cypress pine to ironbark to scribbly gum to box, and back again, interspersed with expansive heaths and a network of sandy creeks. The Pilliga is recognised as one of the most important areas for biodiversity in eastern Australia and is home to more than 350 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs. To many who travel through the area, the woodlands might look monotonous, but if you drive the back roads slowly or wander amongst the vegetation, you will discover that The Pilliga is full of life and richness and wonder. It is truly a special place, and of huge significance to the survival of countless native plants and animals.