Flora of New Zealand Series

Tufted, grass-like, (10) -20-50- (65) cm high. Corm 0.6-1 × 1-1.5 cm, white; tunic soft, closely woven, grey-brown, fibrous. Leaves (4) -6-9, variable in length, rarely reaching level of lowest flowers, 0.5-1 cm wide, in basal fan, few cauline, bract-like above, sheathing the branches; cormils several in most leaf-axils. Inflorescence 1-8- (15)-flowered, usually branched; spathe-valves 1.5-2 cm long, white with minute brown streaks, ± cuspidate, often shallowly to deeply lacerate, usually red-brown towards tip. Flowers to 4.5 cm long, 4-5 cm diam., almost entirely yellow-cream; tube c. 1.5 cm long, yellow; lobes cream on inside, the outside entirely cream or often broadly streaked with purple, occasionally some lobes or even whole flowers entirely purple. Stamens asymmetric. Capsule light green, 1 cm × 7 mm. Seeds ± globose, 2-2.5 mm diam., reddish-brown.

N. North Auckland - Tokerau Beach, Kaitaia; Auckland City; Wellington - Waikanae, Hutt City, Wellington City. Garden escape in grass, often under trees in domains or parks.

(S. Africa)

First record: ‡

First collection: Auckland Domain, Auckland, waste grassy land, V. D. Zotov, 4.9.1945 (CHR 51486).

FL. 9-10.