Botanical art
Prior names
Wurmbea dioica ssp. citrina
Common names
Green-flower Star-lily
Green-flower Nancy
Etymology
Wurmbea name after Friedrick Wilhelm von Wurmb, merchant and botanist in 18th century Batavia (Jakarta). Citrina from the Latin 'citrinus' meaning citrus or lemon-coloured; alluding to the greenish-yellow flowers, unique in this genus in Australia.
Distribution and status
Found in the central an north-eastern parts of South Australia, growing on red sandy soil. Also found in New South Wales. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in New South Wales.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula
NRM regions: Eyre Peninsula, South Australian Arid Lands
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Dioecious herb to 30 cm high. Leaves 3, well separated to 10 cm long, lowest leaf basal, middle leaf shorter, with long-tepering apex, uppermost leaf very short, strongly dilated at the base. Inflorescence open spike with several to many (-20) yellow-green star-shaped flowers, nectary 1 per tepal, greenish-brown, anthers purple-brown. Flowering between May and September, depending on rainfall. Fruits are brown capsule with rounded segments, not ribbed, containing many seeds. Seeds are dark brown globular seed to 2 mm diameter, with a wrinkled surface. Seed embryo type is linear under-developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and November. Collect mature capsules, those turning pale straw colour and containing hard brown seeds. 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. From one collection, the seed viability was high, at 100%.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA MSB | 1,100 (4.14 g) 1,100 (4.14 g) | 100+ | 23-Oct-2008 | DJD1078 Eastern | 20-Jul-2009 | 100% | +5°C, -18°C |