Family Index

Scientific Name

Arthropodium strictum

Family Name

LILIACEAE

Common Name

Chocolate Lily

Status

Rare

Height

0.2m - 1m (20-100cm)

Flowers

Mauve flowers, chocolate scented, with purplish-black conspicuous anthers.

Fruit

Papery capsule

Form

Dwarf perennial herb with basal grass-like leaves and erect stem.

Municipalities

Communities

Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Grassy Vegetation

Habitat Notes

Grows on dry hillsides, open forest and grasslands in the Midlands, North East, and East Coast to 300m. Likes well-drained to heavy, seasonally inundated soils. Common in the Tamar region.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Shady; Waterlogged; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Clay; Fertile; Loam; Well-drained

General Notes

Various insects are attracted to the flowers. Comments from Les Payne he has not tried to propagate this species. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

The small round capsules turn from soft and green to brown and brittle as the seed ripen.the ripe seed are black and firm and shed soon after maturity. harvest stalks by hand and place upside down in paper bags

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Several years

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Seed has 2-3 month after ripening period. Sow in autumn as higher temperatures inhibit germination. (not over 18oC). *Suitable for hand-seeding in bushland.For some species seed over 12 months old may need stratification for 6- 7 weeks.

Germination Time

4-8 weeks

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Yes

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Yes

Cutting Notes

The tubers can be transplanted as well as divided, provided they are gathered intact. The tubers are on the roots and can be some distance from the rootstock.