Common name: Sky Lily
Herpolirion novae-zelandiae Hook.f. APNI* 
Description: Herb forming mats to 2 m or more in diam.; rhizomes wiry, creeping, c. 1–3 cm long, 1–2 mm diam.
Leaves usually c. 5 live ones per stem, linear, mostly to 6 cm long, occasionally up to 11 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, subfleshy, sometimes glaucous, longitudinally folded; sheath c. 10 mm long.
Tepals ± oblanceolate, c. 20 mm long, 2.5–3 mm wide, spreading, white, blue or lilac. Stamens free, about half the length of the perianth; filaments filiform, finely pubescent except at the apex; anthers 2–3 mm long. Style filiform, about equal to the stamens; stigma undivided.
Capsule globose, 3–5 mm long, c. 4 mm diam.; seeds flattened, ovoid to oblong, 2–3 mm long.
Flowering: December–February
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in wet heath and swampy places in alpine areas; south from the Kosciusko district.
NSW subdivisions: ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas.
Text by S. McCune & D. W. Hardin
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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