Synonyms: Dichopogon APNI*
Description: Perennial herbs, roots with stalked or sessile tubers.
Leaves radical, linear, flat, often withering early; leaf fibres from previous seasons often present.
Inflorescence racemose or paniculate, scapose; flowers usually 1–9 per node, sometmes chocolate- or vanilla-scented, sometimes secund; pedicels erect, spreading to nodding, usually articulate close to flower. Tepals free, rotate to reflexed, not spirally twisted after flowering, pale blue, purple or white; outer tepals narrow, 3–5-veined; inner tepals elliptic to circular. Stamens 6; filaments glabrous or hirsute; anthers linear, longer than filaments, introrse to latrorse, dehiscing by longitudinal slits, sometimes with 2 or 4 densely hairy basal appendages. Ovules 1–6 per loculus; style simple.
Fruit a capsule, sometimes enclosed by perianth; seeds globose to angular, black.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 18 species, Australia, New Zealand & New Caledonia, Madagascar. Australia: 13 species (12 endemic), all states.
Arthropodium was formerly placed in the family Anthericaceae. The genus Dichopogon is now included in Arthropodium.
Text by J.G. Conran, S. McCune & D.W. Hardin. Updated by R.L.Barrett 10 Mar. 2021
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Arthropodium paniculatum,
Arthropodium sp. Snowy R. catchment (N.G.Walsh 6195),
Arthropodium sp. South-east Highlands (N.G.Walsh 811)
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Anthers with lateral dehiscence | 2 |
| Anthers with apical dehiscence | 4 |
| 2 | Anthers straight, yellow | Arthropodium glareosorum |
| Anthers recurving, purple
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Roots with fleshy necks and fusiform tubers; tepals white, ± pinkish | Arthropodium milleflorum |
| Roots sessile, tubers narrowly turbinate; tepals purple
Back to 2 | Arthropodium minus |
| 4 | Anthers purple, with a yellow-haired cushion; caudae indistinct | 5 |
| Anthers purple, without a yellow-haired cushion; caudae distinct
Back to 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Anther apex acute; root neck fibrous | Arthropodium morganiae |
| Anther apex blunt, rounded; root neck fleshy
Back to 4 | Arthropodium sejunctum |
| 6 | Pedicels single, erect; filaments erect; caudae with yellow hairs | Arthropodium strictum |
| Pedicels multiple, drooping; filaments sigmoid; caudae with purple hairs
Back to 4 | 7 |
| 7 | Flowers and fruit nodding; stamen appendages usually purple | Arthropodium fimbriatum |
| Flowers and fruit erect; stamen appendages usually yellow
Back to 6 | Arthropodium sp. Albury (A.D.J.Piesse 9) |
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