Flora of New Zealand Series

Grass-like, tufted. Corm globose, 1.5- (2.5) cm diam., tunic fibrous-membranous, creamy. Stems to 70 cm high, slender, wiry. Leaves 4-5- (8), narrow-linear, ± ⅔ length of stem, 3-6- (8) mm wide, erect, distinctly fine-veined. Spike short, axis ± flexuous, occasionally branched, with 4-12 close-set flowers; spathe-valves ± 1 cm long, membranous, very light red-brown. Flowers 4-5-(6.5) cm diam., cream to orange-yellow with dark brown to reddish-black circular patch in centre and usually ± reddish on outside, entirely cerise in some large plants often with branched inflorescence; tube (0.5)-1-1.5- (2) cm long, very narrow; lobes 2-2.5 cm long. Capsule 3.5-4 mm long, oblong, greenish.

N. North Auckland - Lake Waiparera; Auckland City; Wellington - Wallaceville, Johnsonville. Garden escape in grass on roadsides or on waste land.

(S. Africa)

First record: ‡

First collection: "Wallaceville, Hutt Valley in grass, roadside, A. J. Healy, 23.10.1953, a small patch only", (CHR 84245).

Fl. 9-10.

The three common garden escapes in N.Z. have respectively (a) smaller yellow-cream flowers with brown patch in centre, (b) larger cream to yellow flowers with dark red-black centre patch and red-purple stripe on back of outer lobes and (c) very large entirely cerise flowers with deeper central patch (Fig. 25D). This latter form is much grown in Auckland and frequently escapes onto grassy roadsides. It is a strong growing plant which is larger than the other two forms and often has a branched inflorescence. Similar plants have also been collected from near Wellington.