Patersonia fragilis
(Labill.) Asch. & Graebn. Short Purple-flagTufted or tussock-forming herb. Leaves linear, 20–60 cm long, 1–6 mm wide, biconvex to terete, grooved, glabrous, slightly glaucous; apex often pungent. Inflorescence with scape 4–25 cm long, glabrous, striate, clasped by 1 reduced leaf. Primary bracts ovate, 2.5–4.5 cm long, green to pale brown, with texture similar to leaves; margin dry, membranous, usually brown; involucre 5–9 mm wide; inner (secondary) bracts enclosed. Perianth tube 2.5–3.5 cm long, glabrous, slightly exserted; outer perianth lobes obovate to rhomboid, 1.2–2.3 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide; inner perianth lobes narrowly obovate. Staminal filaments 2–3 mm long, almost completely united. Ovary glabrous. Capsule cylindric, 2.5–3 cm long, apiculate; seeds compressed-ovoid, c. 2.5 mm long, black; aril present. Flowers Aug.–Dec.
GleP, VVP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, GGr, DunT, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz. Also SA, Qld, NSW, Tas. Widespread in wet coastal heathlands and open woodlands in sandy soils.
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.