Dianella ensifolia
Content
Description
Leaves basal, scattered along the stem or in a terminal rosette, distichous, with a sheathing lower part, (25-)30-60(-100) cm by (4-)8-30 mm;
Inflorescence exceeding the leaves, lax or with short terminal branches often c. 1-2 cm long, bearing up to 20 pedicels.
Ovary green, 1.5-2 mm long;
Fruit shiny blue, 6-8(-11) mm ø.
Seeds several, 3-4 mm long.
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: China South-Central (Yunnan present); Hainan (Hainan present), Asia-Tropical: Thailand (Thailand present), Australasia: New South Wales (New South Wales present); Northern Territory (Northern Territory present); Queensland (Queensland present); Tasmania (Tasmania present), Burma present, Continental Africa present, Himalayas present, Japan present, Madagascar present, New Zealand present, Southern America: Argentina Northeast (Formosa present), continental Asia present, many Pacific islands present, southern China present
Continental Africa (Wild, 1953), Madagascar, continental Asia (Himalayas, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China) to southern China (Yunnan, Hainan), Japan and Formosa, throughout Malesia to Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales), Tasmania, New Zealand and many Pacific islands.
Notes
Backer (1924, 1968) recognized two species, D. montana and D. bancana, to include the material from Java, which he distinguished mainly on flower colour, venation of petals, and inflorescence form. However, the large number of intermediates makes this separation impracticable.
Schlittler (1940) recognized 3 spp. in Malesia (D. odorata, D. nemorosa and D. sparsiflora), but in 1948 he reduced these to a single one under the name D. nemorosa, with 24 forms in Malesia.
Being a common species over a large area, D. ensifolia is exceptionally well represented in herbaria and, despite its variability, I doubt that even with intensive field work distinct subspecific taxa can be defined.
Schlittler (1940) recognized 3 spp. in Malesia (D. odorata, D. nemorosa and D. sparsiflora), but in 1948 he reduced these to a single one under the name D. nemorosa, with 24 forms in Malesia.
Being a common species over a large area, D. ensifolia is exceptionally well represented in herbaria and, despite its variability, I doubt that even with intensive field work distinct subspecific taxa can be defined.
Citation
Wild 1953 – In: Kew Bull.: 251
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 553
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 549
Merr. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 136
Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 560
Hassk. 1844 – In: Tijd. Nat. Gesch. Phys.: 180
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 551
Merr. 1922 – In: En. Philip.: 203
Hall.f. 1914 – In: Nova Guinea: 995
Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 560
Schlittler 1940 – In: Mitt. Bot. Mus. Un. Zurich: 258
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 551
DC. 1922 – In: En. Philip.: 203
Laut. 1913 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 293
Hemsl. 1884 – In: Rep. Chall. Bot.: 201
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 329
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 550
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 550
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 551
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 550
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 549
Ridl. 1907 – In: Mat. Fl. Mal. Pen. Monoc.: 92
cf. Coode 1978 – In: Bosser c.s., Fl. Mascar. Lil.: 32
M. R. Henderson 1954: Mal. Wild Flow. Monoc: 186: f. 110
Holthuis 1942 – In: Blumea: 167
Bl. 1848: Pl. Jav. Rar.: 114
Laut. 1913 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 293
Gibbs 1917: Arfak: 100
Back. & Bakh.f. 1968 – In: Fl. Java: 87
Hall.f. 1914 – In: Nova Guinea: 996
Merr. 1921: En. Born.: 114
Schlittler 1940 – In: Mitt. Bot. Mus. Un. Zurich: 256
Steen. 1972: Mt. Fl. Java: t. 28-1
Merr. 1910 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: Bot. 337
Back. 1924 – In: Handb. Fl. Java: 54
Lamk 1792: p. 388. – In: Tabl. Enc.: t. 250
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 552
Merr. 1922 – In: En. Philip.: 202
Merr. 1934 – In: Contr. Arn. Arb.: 18
Lamk 1948: pp. 216-223. – In: Blumea
Hall.f. 1914 – In: Nova Guinea: 993
Krause 1925 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 551
Lamk 1948 – In: Blumea: 209
Back. 1924 – In: Handb. Fl. Java: 54