Thysanotus patersonii

R. Br.

Twining fringe-lily

Asparagaceae Edible: Tubers, Root, Stems, Flowers 5,040 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Thysanotus patersonii, commonly known as twining fringe-lily or Paterson's fringed lily, is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, and is endemic to Australia. It is a leafless, twining perennial herb, with tuberous roots, purple flowers borne singly or in sparse panicles with linear to lance-shaped sepals, elliptic, fringed petals and six stamens.

Description

A small lily which keeps growing from year to year. A creeping or twining plant. It drapes over other plants. It grows to 10-20 cm high. It has one or two slender stems. It has tubers which occur in a cluster at the base of the plant. It has leafless branches. Each branch produces a single flower. It has an attractive violet flowers. There are 3 petals broad petals alternating with 3 narrow petals. The broad petals have a delicate fringe. Each flower only lasts one day. After flowering the plants die back to the roots.

Edible Uses

Both the roots and stems are edible. Australian Aborigines would roll the entire vine into a ball, roast it in hot ashes, then grind it into a green powder that was eaten alongside gum tree roots.

Traditional Uses

The tubers are eaten raw or roasted.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in all Australian states. It grows in heathland and grassland. In Tasmania it grows in dry sandy forest from sea level to 1000 m altitude. It does best in light to medium, well-drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought but sensitive to frost. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Tasmania*,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it might succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country. It tolerates temperatures down to about -7°c in Australian gardens, though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. A twining plant, it often trails on the ground if there is no support for it to climb. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a fertile well-drained sandy loan in a sunny position.

Propagation

Sow seed thinly in spring in a sandy compost in a greenhouse. Keep the seedlings in their pots through the first growing season, then move them into individual pots in early spring of the following year. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least another year before attempting to plant them outdoors. Can also be propagated by division.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 50 Thysanotus species mostly in Australia. Also put in the family Laxmanniaceae.

Also Known As

Tjungoori

References (23)

Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p 251
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 984
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 191
Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 154
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 98

Show all 23 references

Curtis, W.M., & Morris, D.I., 1994, The Student's Flora of Tasmania. Part 4B St David's Park Publishing, Tasmania, p 389
Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 158
Daw, B., Walley, T. & Keighery, G., 2001, Bush Tucker. Plants of the South-West. Department of Conservation and Land Management. Western Australia. p 6
De Angelis, D., 2005, Aboriginal Plant Use of the Greater Melbourne Area. La Trobe University Environment Collective
Gilfedder, L et al, 2003, The Nature of the Midlands. Midlands Bushweb. PO Box 156 Longford, Tasmania. p 67
Gott, B & Conran, J., 1991, Victorian Koorie Plants. PO Box 666 Hamilton, Victoria 3300, Australia. p 14
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 300
Jones, D.L. & Gray, B., 1977, Australian Climbing Plants. Reed. p 149
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 237
Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 81
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 107
Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p 113
Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Calatogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 35
Plants and People in Mooro Country. Nyungar Plant use in Yellagonga Regional Park
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 70
Whiting, J. et al, 2004, Tasmania's Natural Flora. Tasmania's Natural Flora Editorial Committee PO Box 194, Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia 7315 p 359
Zola, N., & Gott, B., 1992, Koorie Plants Koorie People. Koorie Heritage Trust. p 44