Dianella longifolia explained

Dianella longifolia, commonly known as blueberry lily, pale flax lily or smooth flax lily, or blue flax-lily,^[1] (although other species, or the whole genus Dianella are also referred to by this last name^{[2] [3] [4]}) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae and is endemic to non-arid areas of Australia. It is a tufted, rhizomatous, perennial herb with grass-like leaves, pale blue, white or greenish flowers that have pale yellow anthers, and shiny, pale blue berries.

Description

Dianella longifolia is a rhizomatous, perennial herb that forms tufts up to about tall and has stems less than long. The leaves are folded lengthwise, grass-like, and long with a rounded to keeled sheath and wide. The inflorescence is longer than the leaves, the flowers pale blue, white or greenish and well separated from each other, each on a pedicel long. The three outer tepals are and the inner tepals long, each with five veins. The stamens have filament swellings long and yellow anthers. Flowering occurs in spring and summer and the fruit is a pale blue berry long.^{[5] [6]}

Taxonomy and naming

Dianella longifolia was first described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.^{[7] [8]} The specific epithet (longifolia) is derived from Latin, meaning "long leaved".^{[9] [10]}

Six varieties of D. longifolia have been described and accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

• Dianella longifolia var. fragrans R.J.F.Henderson^[11] that is only known from two collections from near Cardwell;^[12]
• Dianella longifolia var. grandis R.J.F.Henderson^[13] that is widespread in south-eastern Australia, from near Gympie to north of Adelaide;^[14]
• Dianella longifolia R.Br. var. longifolia,^[15] found throughout northern and eastern Australia, including the Kimberley region of Western Australia;^[16]
• Dianella longifolia var. stenophylla Domin^[17] in eastern Australia from near Gladstone to near Batemans Bay;^{[18] [19]}
• Dianella longifolia var. stupata R.J.F.Henderson^[20] found mostly west of the Great Dividing Range in eastern Australia;^[21]
• Dianella longifolia var. surculosa R.J.F.Henderson^[22] that occurs in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales.^[23]

Distribution and habitat

Blueberry lily is widespread and common in non-arid parts of Australia, including the Kimberley region, eastern and southern Australia and northern Tasmania.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Henderson . Rodney J.F. . Dianella longifolia . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.
2. Web site: Blue flax lily (Dianella) . Children’s Health Queensland . 17 July 2017 . 24 November 2020.
3. Web site: Dianella caerulea – blue flax lily . Gardening With Angus . 6 April 2019 . 24 November 2020.
4. Web site: Dianella brevipedunculata . Australian Plants Online . 24 November 2020.
5. Web site: Dianella longifolia. 2019-05-05 . PlantNET . Karen L. . Wilson . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 2009–2010 .
6. Web site: Conran . John Godfrey . Dianella longifolia . Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . 7 November 2020.
7. Web site: Dianella longifolia. APNI. 7 November 2020.
8. Book: Brown . Robert . Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802-1805 . 1810 . Typis R. Taylor et socii,1810 . London . 280 . 7 November 2020.
9. Les Robinson – Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, page 232
10. Web site: Dianella longifolia. Atlas of Living Australia. 2019-05-05.
11. Web site: Dianella longifolia var. fragrans. Australian Plant Census. 7 November 2020.
12. Web site: Henderson . Rodney J.F. . Dianella longifolia var. fragrans . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.
13. Web site: Dianella longifolia var. grandis. Australian Plant Census. 7 November 2020.
14. Web site: Henderson . Rodney J.F. . Dianella longifolia var. grandis . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.
15. Web site: Dianella longifolia var. longifolia. Australian Plant Census. 7 November 2020.
16. Web site: Henderson . Rodney J.F. . Dianella longifolia var. longifolia . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.
17. Web site: Dianella longifolia var. stenophylla. Australian Plant Census. 7 November 2020.
18. Web site: Henderson . Rodney J.F. . Dianella longifolia var. stenophylla . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.
19. Web site: Dianella longifolia var. stenophylla. 7 November 2020 . PlantNET . Karen L. . Wilson . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 2009–2010 .
20. Web site: Dianella longifolia var. stupata. Australian Plant Census. 7 November 2020.
21. Web site: Henderson . Rodney J.F. . Dianella longifolia var. stupata . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.
22. Web site: Dianella longifolia var. surculosa. Australian Plant Census. 7 November 2020.
23. Web site: Henderson . Rodney J.F. . Dianella longifolia var. surculosa . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.