Botanical art
Prior names
Reya umbellata
Common names
Milkmaids
Milk Lily
Etymology
Burchardia named after Johann Heinrich Burckhardt (1676-1738), a German botanist. Umbellata from the Latin 'umbella' meaning a little shadow or umbrella and the suffix -atus, having or likeness to, referring to the the flowers occurring in umbels (an umbrella-like arrangement with flower stems all arising from a common point).
Distribution and status
Found in the southern part of South Australia, on the tip of Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, the Mount Lofty Ranges and the South-east, growing in open forests, woodlands and heath. Also found in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Grass-like lily with narrow, linear flat leaves to 60 cm long and 4 mm wide. Flowers white with a reddish centre arise in clusters (umbels) of 2-10 flowers on a slender stalk with two leaf-like bracts. Flowering between July and October. Fruits are pale brown papery ovoid capsule to 15 mm long. Seeds are brown seed to 3 mm long. Seed embryo type is linear fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and January. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning a pale straw colour and contain brown seeds. Can collect individual capsules or break off the whole head. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to 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 | 7,900 (13.5 g) 7,900 (13.5 g) | 100+ | 22-Dec-2004 | MKJ57 Southern 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.