NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE

Printable Page

Description: Erect or twining herbs, rhizomatous.

Leaves alternate, linear to lanceolate, base narrowed but not sheathing, lamina usually twisted so that the lower side is turned upwards, with numerous longitudinal veins; stipules absent.

Inflorescence axillary or terminal, pedunculate, flowers solitary or few to several in cymes and generally umbel-like. Flowers actinomorphic or slightly zygomorphic, 3-merous, bisexual. Tepals 6 in 2 whorls, mostly free, ± similar to conspicuously dissimilar. Stamens usually 6; filaments free; anthers introrse, pseudo-basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Septal nectaries present. Ovary inferior, 3-locular or rarely 1-locular; ovules numerous per loculus; style single; stigma 3-branched.

Fruit a capsule, generally loculicidal; seeds numerous, arillate.

Habit Photo Karen L Wilson

Distribution and occurrence: World: 4 genera, c. 160 species, southern & C America. Australia: 1 genus, 2 species (naturalized), N.S.W., Qld, Vic., SA, WA

External links:
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Alstroemeriaceae, Order: Liliales)
Wikipedia