Patersonia sericea

Patersonia sericea, commonly known as the purple flag, native iris, silky purple flag or native flag is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae which is endemic to eastern Australia. It is relatively easy to cultivate, and even the type specimen provided to the taxonomist, Robert Brown was "...furnished us by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, of Hammersmith, West London who received the seeds, from which they raised it, from Port Jackson".[1]

Patersonia sericea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Patersonia
Species:
P. sericea
Binomial name
Patersonia sericea

Description

The purple flag is a densely-tufted perennial herb growing to a height of about 60 cm. It has stiff, erect grass-like green leaves 15–60 cm long and 2–6 mm wide, that are finely striated, glabrous except for the margins which have fine hairs and near the base which is covered with short white hairs. The flower stalk is 3–55 cm long and the petals (strictly outer tepals) are roughly oval in shape, 20–30 mm long, 15–25 mm wide and blue-violet in colour. The flowers appear in spring and summer and each lasts for less than a day.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Patersonia sericea was first described in 1807 by Robert Brown in Curtis's Botanical Magazine.[1] The specific epithet (sericea) is derived from the Latin word sericus meaning "silken",[3] referring to the hairs at the base of the juvenile leaves.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The purple flag occurs in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria (Australia) where it grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath, preferring sandy, well-drained soil on the coast and ranges.[2][5]

Conservation

Patersonia sericea is not considered to be at risk in the wild.[4]

Cultivation

The purple flag is a reliable species in cultivation, thriving in hot, dry situations and is also frost tolerant. It is useful grown en masse in a bed of perennial plants.[5][6]

Ecology

Patersonia sericea is used as larval food by two species of butterfly, the eastern iris-skipper (Mesodina halyzia) and montane iris-skipper (Mesodina aeluropis).[7]

References
  1. "Patersonia sericea R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. James, TA; Brown, EA. "Patersonia sericea". Plantnet. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  3. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 697.
  4. "Patersonia sericea". Australian Native Plant Society (Australia). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. "Patersonia sericea". Sydney Water. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. "Patersonia species". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. Braby, Michael F. (2004). The complete field guide to butterflies of Australia (Reprinted with corrections. ed.). Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO. p. 86. ISBN 0643090274. Retrieved 27 February 2015. patersonia sericea.

External sources
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