Etymology
Laterale from the Latin 'litoralis' meaning pertaining to the sea-shore; alluding to the species restriction to
the coastal sandhills.
Distribution and status
Found in the lower South-east in South Australia, growing on coastal sandhills often in sight of the sea, in dry sand overlying
moisture retentive loams. Also found in Victoria. Native. Very rare in South Australia. Very Rare in Victoria.
Herbarium region: South Eastern
NRM region: South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Robust herb to 40 cm tall with sub-globose tuber to 1 cm diameter, formed adjacent to plant base, stem below soil level with two cylindrical hyaline sheaths, the lower vestigial, the upper to 3 cm long. Leaf hollow-terete, usually senescent at flowering, red basally, green above, to 9 mm diameter, apex lax. Scape largely enclosed within leaf, green, to 8 mm diameter. Flowers variously coloured in tones of green, red, purple, brown and cream, erect, numerous, in a short moderately to very dense sub-cylindrical spike. Blooms emit a sweet honey fragrance, and individual flowers last only 3-7 days. Flowering between November and January.