PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Genus Laxmannia Family Asparagaceae

Description: Tufted rhizomatous perennial herbs, roots stilt-like and fibrous.

Leaves cauline, ± terete to triquetrous, numerous and sessile in tufts, scattered along stems leaving leafless intervals; bases sheathing, the margins scarious to finely divided.

Inflorescence terminal, scapose, head-like umbel with involucre of imbricate scarious bracts; outer bracts entire; floral bracts with jagged to finely divided margins; flowers pedicellate. Tepals 1-veined, not twisting after flowering, persistent, white to pink to greenish; outer tepals free; inner tepals shortly united or free. Stamens 6, slightly shorter than inner tepals, inner 3 fused to inner tepals; filaments terete; anthers dorsifixed, introrse, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovules 1–8 per loculus; style filiform; stigma dilated, entire.

Fruit a capsule, enclosed in persistent perianth; seeds 3–12, triangular, nippled, dull black.


Distribution and occurrence: World: 13 species, endemic Australia. Australia: all States.

Laxmannia is sometimes placed in the segregate family Laxmanniaceae.

Text by S. McCune & D.W. Hardin
Taxon concept:

 Key to the species 
1Inflorescences exceeding leaves; scapes erect, more than 8 mm long2
Inflorescences not exceeding leaves, on short decurved scapes more or less 5 mm longLaxmannia orientalis
2Plants compact and prostrate; outer tepals usually equal to or longer than inner tepalsLaxmannia compacta
Plants erect; outer tepals usually shorter than inner tepals
                       Back to 1
Laxmannia gracilis

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET