Matted Flax-lily

 

 

Matted Flax-lily
Dianella amoena 
Kingdom:   Plantae
Phylum:   Magnoliophyta (Angiosperm)
Class:   Liliopsida (Monocotyledon)
Order:   Liliales
Family:   Phormiaceae
Status
Australia:  Endangered (EPBC Act)
Victoria:  Endangered  
Tasmania:  Rare
Victorian FFG:  Listed 


Matted Flax-lily Dianella amoena is a native grassland species which is considered endemic to Victoria with some doubt over recognition of this species from previous records in Tasmania  (Carter 2010).

Matted Flax-lily is a perennial lily which forms clumps up to 5 m wide from rhizomes. Leaves are grey-green, dull crimson at the base, narrow and tapering, to 45 cm long by 12 mm wide. Flowering occurs from October to April, stems are 20-90 cm long and bear several bluish star shaped flowers. The fruit comprises numerous purple oval shaped berries.

Distribution of Matted Flax-lily in Victoria. Source: Victorian Biodiversity Atlas 2015. Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning.

There are estimated to be only about 1,400 plants remaining in about 120 locations (Carter 2010).

Like many other species in our landscape, the habitat of Matted Flax-lily has become compromised. Land clearing and fragmentation of natural remnants has had a significant impact on this species. Grazing pressure from both introduced herbivores such as sheep and rabbits and native animals like Kangaroos have had a serious impact.

The destruction of sites for urban development has meant that today most natural Matted Flax-lily sites are restricted to roadsides, rail reserves, small conservation reserves, and cemetery reserves containing native grasslands.  It is also found on a limited number of private land sites.  It is still found in pockets of remnant native grasslands in Melbourne with several sites within the urban areas of Hume City, Darebin City and Banyule City Council.

Threats

Threats to Matted Flax-lily  are similar to that which apply to other grassland species;

 

Conservation of Matted Flax-lily in Victoria

There are about 50 sites in Victoria where some level of population monitoring and management occurs, mainly through the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning biodiversity officers, also in conjunction with Local Government, Committees of Management, local conservation groups, V/Line and VicRoads. At several sites known populations have received translocated plants salvaged from development sites, these are plants which have often been divided up from rhizomes or plants propagated from seed.

Note: in some cases locations below are kept general to maintain security of the site. As with many species of threatened flora excessive disturbance and trampling can be detrimental.

Conservation of Matted Flax-lily in the Melbourne area 

Banyule City

Casey City

Darebin City

Hume City

Manningham City

Moreland City

Nillumbik Shire

Whittlesea City Council

Conservation of Matted Flax-lily in the Gippsland area

East Gipsland Shire

Latrobe City

Wellington Shire

Conservation of Matted Flax-lily in Central Victoria

Macedon Ranges Shire

Mount Alexander Shire

Hepburn Shire

Private land

References: 

 

Please contribute information regarding the Matted Flax-lily - observations, images or projects.  Contact SWIFFT  

 

 

 

 

 

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