Calostemma purpureum in Black Hill and Morialta Conservation Parks

Amaryllidaceae

Calostemma purpureum
Black Hill CP, 3 March 2003

Calostemma sp.
Garland lilies

Bulbs with flowers which occur in groups on the end of stalks. The name comes from the Greek calos: beautiful and stemma: a wreath or garlan or crown, a reference to the arrangement of the male part of the flowers, the filaments upon which the anthers are held. There are 4 Australian species but we only see one; Calostemma purpureum, in our parks.

Calostemma purpureum: the garland lily, purple bells, or Wilcannia lily. The flowers emerge in late summer, early autumn, often after rain around February or March. The leaves do not emerge until after the flowers are spent and have died back.

These plants are quite a sight when in flower, as the generally occur in large groups, often in the valleys. There is a particularly large colony of plants in the ARPA project site. These are the darker coloured flowers you see on this page. There is also a colony on the sugar loaf, and these plants are much paler in colour, and have stouter stems.

Calostemma purpureum ARPA project site, Black Hill cp

ARPA project site 3 March 2003.

Calostemma purpureum Sugarloaf, Black Hill cp

Sugarloaf 13 February 2005.

Sugarloaf Black Hill Conservation Park.

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New page added 30 December 2008