Thysanotus banksii
R. Br.
Banks’ fringed lily
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Summary
Source: WikipediaThysanotus banksii is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is native to Australia and New Guinea. It is a perennial herb with a small rootstock, linear leaves, and umbels of purple flowers with elliptic, fringed petals, lance-shaped sepals and six stamens.
Description
A delicate herb. It grows 60 cm high. Under the ground there is a tuber which produces above ground parts each year. There are usually 3-5 leaves growing from the base. They are very thin and narrow. They can be 20-60 cm long by 0.1 cm wide. The flowers have mauve to purple streaks. Flowers are about 2 cm across. Usually 1 or 2 flowers occur together on the end of 60 cm long stalks. The fruit are round papery capsules. They are 0.5 cm across. There are several black seeds inside.
Edible Uses
The underground tuber is cooked and eaten.
Traditional Uses
The underground tuber is cooked and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. Plants grow naturally in open forest among tall annual wet-season grasses. They can grow in seasonal swamps on sandy soils.
Where It Grows
Australia*, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG,
Notes
There are about 50 Thysanotus species mostly in Australia. Also put in the family Laxmanniaceae.
References (8)
- Brock, J., 1993, Native Plants of Northern Australia, Reed. p 319
- Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 201
- Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 81
- Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p 119
- Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Calatogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 33
Show all 8 references Hide references
- Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 357
- Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 998
- Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 370
