''Schelhammera undulata'', the lilac lily, is a small plant found in eastern
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. Widely distributed south of
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a city in northeastern 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 Rivers region of the State. It ...
, 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 is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
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 (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...
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 flora of Australia written by botanist Robert Brown and published in 1810. Often referred to as ''Prodromus Flora Novae ...
'' in 1810, authored by
Robert Brown.
References
Colchicaceae
Flora of New South Wales
Flora of Victoria (Australia)
Plants described in 1810
{{liliales-stub