Botanical art
Prior names
Dichopogon fimbriatus
Common names
Summer Vanilla-lily
Nodding Vanilla-lily
Etymology
Arthropodium from the Greek 'arthron' meaning a joint and 'podion' meaning a little foot, alluding to the jointed pedicels. Fimbriatum from the Latin 'fimbriatus' meaning fringed, referring to the wavy margin of the petals.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern part of South Australia from Lake Eyre south to the lower South-east. Also found in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Uncommon in Queensland. Common in other States.
Herbarium regions: Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Stiff, erect, often unbranched lily to 80 cm high, with long fibrous roots ending in fusiform tubers. Leaves to 8 cm long and 2 mm wide, linear. Inflorescence forming a loose raceme or panicle with short bracts at the base of each branch, with 2-4 blue or violet, rarely white flowers in the axil of each bract; drooping, scented; anthers dark-purple, the 2 appendages much shorter, yellow. Fruits are pale-brown ovoid capsule to 15 mm long containing numerous seeds. Seeds are black, sectoroid or pyramidal seed to 2 mm long and 2 mm wide, with smooth or slightly wrinkled surface. Seed embryo type is linear fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between January and February. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning a pale straw colour and contain black seeds. Can collect individual capsules or break off the whole spike. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is usually high.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA MSB | 13,500 (12.28 g) 13,500 (12.28 g) | 100+ | 7-Feb-2005 | DJD111 Northern Lofty | 28-Mar-2006 | 100% | -18°C |
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.