Flax lilies
Dianella bambusifolia
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
What it is like
A lily. It grows 1 m high. It forms tufts on slender thick stems. The leaves are simple and they have teeth on the edge towards the tip. They are 11-30 cm long and 1-3 cm wide. There is a sheath at the base and it is folded. The flowers are in a branched arrangement at the tip of the plant. The flowers have 6 tepals that are purple, blue or white. They are 4-5 mm long. The fruit is a berry. It can be blue or purple and is 4-7 mm long. The seeds are dark brown and 4 mm long.
There are about 20-30 Dianella species. There are 15 species in Australia. Also put in the family Hemerocallidaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest in northern Australia. It grows from sea level to 660 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit