Ixia polystachya
L. Variable IxiaCorm up to 2.5 cm diam. Stem unbranched or with 1–4 erect branches. Leaves 5–8, erect, linear, 20–60 cm long, 2–6 mm wide. Inflorescence few to many-flowered, flowers distichous, openly spaced to crowded. Primary bracts obtuse to very shortly toothed, 3–7 mm long, translucent, whitish, often faintly veined. Flowers white or pale blue to mauve-pink, base of the lobes often a contrasting colour. Perianth tube thread-like, 0.6–1.4 cm long; lobes spreading from base, 1–2.5 cm long, 5–9 mm wide, with apex obtuse. Staminal filaments free, 3–4 mm long; anthers 4–7 mm long. Ovary 2–3 mm long; style branches spreading below anthers, recurved, 3–4 mm long. Flowers Nov.–Dec.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, DunT, NIS, EGL, HSF, Strz. Also naturalised in WA, SA, NSW, Tas. Generally a weed of abandoned gardens and dumped garden refuse near towns.
Conn, B.J. (1994). Iridaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 686–716. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
