''Schelhammera undulata'', the lilac lily, is a small plant found in eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. Widely distributed south of

Lismore, New South Wales Lismore is a city located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia and the main population centre in the City of Lismore Local government in Australia, local government area, it is also a regional centre in the Northern River ...

, though not commonly seen. The habitat is moist sites on the forest floor, it grows to 20 cm high. Leaves are hairless, egg-shaped to

lanceolate The following terms are used to describe leaf plant morphology, morphology in the description and taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade ...

in shape 20 to 50 mm long, 7 to 18 mm wide, with wavy edges. Attractive flowers form in spring. The six petals are pink with purple

anther The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s, flowers around 15 mm across. A wrinkled ovoid capsule forms, 2 to 4 mm wide. Inside are a small number of yellow or brown seeds. The species first appeared in scientific literature in ''

Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae ''Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen'' (Prodromus of the Flora of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land) is a book by the botanist Robert Brown Robert Brown may refer to: Robert Brown (born 1965), British Director, Animator and ...

'' in 1810, authored by

Robert Brown Robert Brown may refer to: Robert Brown (born 1965), British Director, Animator and author Entertainers and artists * Washboard Sam or Robert Brown (1910–1966), American musician and singer * Robert W. Brown (1917–2009), American printmaker ...

References

Colchicaceae Flora of New South Wales Flora of Victoria (state) Plants described in 1810 {{liliales-stub