LILIES OF HEPBURN SHIRE AND THE WOMBAT FOREST

Lilies and closely related species

(listed in order of botanical name)

Arthropodium milleflorum | Pale Vanilla-lily

A clump-forming lily with fleshy pale green leaves. Can die down to tuber after flowering in summer (dependent on conditions). Often pendulous flowers on upright flower stems, often several flowers held at nodes along stems. Flowers typically pale mauve with deep purple anthers.
Most abundant locally within the Wombat Forest and Creswick Regional Park. Sparse occurrences elsewhere within Hepburn Shire.

Arthropodium minus | Small Vanilla-lily

A tuft-forming lily with somewhat fleshy pale green leaves. Flowers pink to mauve, usually one per node along weeping flower stems. Sparse occurrences, mainly in the northern half of Hepburn Shire, preferring drier open woodlands and grasslands. Absent within the Wombat Forest.

Arthropodium strictum | Chocolate Lily

A clump-forming lily with green somewhat fleshy leaves. Branched flower stem with single purple flowers on upright stalks. Typically dies back to tuber after flowering. Occurs across Hepburn Shire with higher concentrations in the west and north. Present but uncommon within the Wombat Forest.

Bulbine bulbosa | Bulbine Lily

A tufting lily with bright green, hollow, almost cylindrical leaves (akin to chives). Flowering stems to 50cm with a terminal spike (raceme) of yellow flowers. Sparsely scattered throughout Hepburn Shire, occasionally locally abundant in woodland and grasslands. Almost absent within the Wombat Forest.

Burchardia umbellata | Milkmaids

A lily with one to two fleshy basal leaves. Flowers held on short stalks radiating from the top of flower stem (an umbel). Flowers white to pink with magenta anthers and style. Seed capsules with three prominent ridges held for some time after flowering. Scattered throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest, particularly in open woodland.

Caesia calliantha | Blue Grass-lily

A clump-forming lily with long deep green leaves. Flower stem to 70cm. Blue-mauve flowers with darker stripe down centre of petals. Occurs in the west of Hepburn Shire, around Creswick and Clunes. Absent in the Wombat Forest.

Chamaescilla corymbosa Blue Stars

A small lily with sparse long, prostrate leaves. Base of leaves often with red pigmentation. Flowers held on typically unbranched stems to 20cm. Largely confined to the west of Hepburn Shire around Creswick and Clunes. Absent in the Wombat Forest.

Dianella revoluta | Black-anther Flax-lily

A robust lily spreading via short rhizomes to form clumps or mats. Stiff grey-green leaves. Flowers violet, anthers brown to black. Hard black seeds enclosed in a purple berry. Widespread throughout Hepburn Shire, can be abundant on drier sites. Scattered throughout the Wombat Forest.

Dianella tasmanica | Tasman Flax-lily

A robust lily spreading via rhizomes forming large patches under ideal conditions. Long, wide, glossy green, stiff leaves. Flowers violet with yellow anthers. Hard seeds enclosed in vivid purple berries. Prefers moist sites and high rainfall areas. Scattered throughout the eastern half of Hepburn Shire and relatively common in the Wombat Forest

Drymophila cyanocarpa | Turquise Berry

A lily with slender wiry stems arising from a tuber. Sparse foliage confined to upper stems. Flowers white or pale mauve followed by radiant purple berries. Locally largely confined to moist areas in the Wombat Forest, where it is widespread, but never locally abundant.

Hypoxis hygrometrica | Golden Weather-glass

A small lily to 20cm. Soft, fleshy linear or flattened leaves. Wispy hairs visible on leaves and flowering stem (differing from Pauridia glabella which is almost hairless). Yellow flower with six petals. Only recorded locally in the west of the Wombat Forest (Spargo Creek).

Pauridia glabella | Tiny Star

A small tuft-forming lily with slightly fleshy leaves, gently tapering. Hairless or few hairs on leaf margins. 1 or 2 yellow flowers on short stems. Largely confined to Creswick and Clunes within Hepburn Shire boundary. Absent in the Wombat Forest. Similar to Hypoxis hygrometrica which has wispy hairs on leaves and stems on close inspection.

Thysanotus tuberosus Common Fringe-lily

A lily typically to 40cm. Sparse, grass-like, somewhat fleshy basal leaves. Wiry branched flowering stems. Flowers purple with fuzzy margins. Widespread throughout much of Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Wurmbea dioica | Early Nancy

Small lily that regenerates annually from tuber. Three slightly fleshy, stem-clasping leaves. Flowers white with purple banding towards centre. Male and female flowers on separate plants. Occurs in forests throughout Hepburn Shire. Present in the Wombat Forest, but uncommon.