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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
Scientific Name: Caesia calliantha
Common Name: blue grasslily
Family Classification (Clade): Monocots
Family: Hemerocallidaceae
Threatened Species Status: Rare
Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.
Form Description: Erect, tufted herbaceous plant with thick, fibrous roots with tuberous swellings towards the tips.
Flowers: 1-3 flowers, with blue or purple petals with darker nerves, petals 6-9mm long.
Fruit: Capsule – strongly lobed and green, even when the seeds are mature. 6-8 seeds are enclosed in each capsule. Seeds are black and firm when ripe.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Many species are difficult to grow from seed. Seed is released within 3-14 days of seed maturity. Harvest stalks and place upside down in large paper bags until capsules open. Capsules may need to be broken up by hand to extract seed.
Seed Treatment Method
Smoke Smoke treatment improves germination in some species. Smokey products, e.g. smokey vermiculite, can be purchased and applied to the sown seed, or sown seeds can be treated directly with smoke from a source such as a drum with a fire and hose.
Seed Treatment Notes
Sow in autumn following collection. Smoke treatment may improve results. Temperature may be critical in germination – i.e. not above 18°C.
Germination Time
5 months, sporadic