Dianella amoena

Dianella amoena, commonly known as the matted flax-lily, is an endangered, herbaceous, perennial plant endemic to Australia. It belongs to the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. It has long grey-green leaves which grow in clumps from an underground rhizome, and displays blue-purple flowers in spring-summer, up to 90 cm in height. The common name Matted Flax-lily refers to its extensively rhizomatous nature, sometimes forming large mats up to 5m wide.

Description

The slender, grey-green leaves of Dianella amoena have a V-shaped cross section, and generally exhibit peg-like projections or “teeth” along the leaf midrib and margins. == Taxonomy ==

Taxonomy

Dianella amoena was first described in 1995 by G.W Carr and P.F. Horsfall. However, many nodes in the molecular phylogeny were poorly supported. Further molecular and morphological research was suggested to resolve relationships among these taxa, and no taxonomic changes were advised. == Distribution and habitat ==

Distribution and habitat

Dianella amoena inhabits grassland and grassy woodland ecosystems, often on volcanic soils. The species exists in small fragments of its original range in roadsides, railways, and urban nature reserves, often in degraded habitats. Recruitment is believed to be non-existent, but it is long-lived and persists in remnant clonal patches. == Conservation ==

Conservation

Dianella amoena is listed as "Endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 federal legislation. and "Rare" under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 state legislation in Tasmania. The main threats to the species are weed invasion, habitat disturbance, mowing and grazing. == Uses ==

Uses

Some plants in the Dianella genus have edible fruits, while others are considered poisonous. Aboriginal peoples ate the fruits of some Dianella species historically, and used the leaves for weaving. Information regarding Dianella amoena specifically is unavailable as it has only been formally recognised since 1995. == References ==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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