Pale grass lily, Blue grass-lily
Caesia parviflora

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

What it is like

A lily which keeps growing from year to year. It is a grass-like herb. It grows 10-25 cm high and spreads 10-25 cm wide. The roots are slightly fleshy. The leaves are grass-like. They are 25 cm long and slender. They occur in tufts. They are less than 5 mm wide. The flower has slender petals 3-10 mm long. They can be white, pink or blue. They are white with bluish-grey veins. The flowers are on leafless stems and are in the axils of bracts. They have white stamens with yellow anthers. After flowering they form a twisted shape.

There are 7 Caesia species. It has also been put in the family Liliaceae and Anthericaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. They grow in heaths and woodlands. It grows in poor, dry soils in open forests. It is resistant to drought and frost. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The tubers are roasted and eaten. These may contain oxalates that would need to be washed out.

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. It can also be grown by division.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Caesia vittata;