Murdannia graminea is a species of flowering plant commonly known as grass lily,[2] in the family Commelinaceae. It is an upright perennial herb with mauve to purple flowers and grows in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
| Grass lily | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Commelinales |
| Family: | Commelinaceae |
| Genus: | Murdannia |
| Species: | M. graminea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Murdannia graminea | |
Description
editMurdannia graminea is an upright, tufting perennial herb with tuberous roots and ascending stems, up 10–60 cm (3.9–23.6 in) high. Most of the leaves rise from the base, occasionally with a few aerial stems, linear, distinctly veined, 5–30 cm (2.0–11.8 in) long, 2–11 mm (0.079–0.433 in) wide, usually rough to softly hairy and acute at the apex. The flowers are borne in small clusters at the end of stems and have three rounded, mauve, blue or white petals and slender pedicels 3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in) long. Flowering occurs from December to April and the fruit is an ellipsoid-shaped and 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editThis species was described in 1810 by Robert Brown who gave it the name Aneilema gramineum.[4] In 1930 German botanist Gustav Brückner changed the name to Murdannia graminea and the description was published in Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien.[5]The specific epithet (gramineum) means "grass-like".[6]
Distribution and habitat
editGrass lily grows in woodlands, sclerophyll forest in wetter locations in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.[2][7][8]
References
edit- ^ "Murdannia graminea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Peter G. "Murdannia graminea". NSW Flora online. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Fairley, Alan (2004). Seldom Seen Rare Plants of Greater Sydney. Louise Egerton. pp. 137 & 138. ISBN 1876334991.
- ^ "Aneilema gramineum". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Murdannia graminea". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ George, A.S; Sharr, F.A (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and their meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables. p. 215. ISBN 9780958034197.
- ^ "Murdannia graminea". Florabase-the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2010). Native Plants of the Sydney Region. Jacana Books. p. 472. ISBN 978-1-74175-571-8.