Early Nancy
Patch of Fruiting Females
Early Nancy
New Male Flower
| Early Nancy Patch of Fruiting Females | | Early Nancy New Male Flower | | ||
 | Class: | Plants (Plantae) - Other Small Plants | |||
| Order: | Liliales | ||||
| Family: | Colchicaceae | ||||
| Species: | Early Nancy (Wurmbea dioica ssp brevifolia) | ||||
| This Photo: | Male Flower Stem | ||||
| Synonym: | Anguillaria dioica | ||||
| Other name: | Harbinger of Spring | ||||
General Species Information: Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA), and elsewhere What a happy little flowering plant this is. It's like it's got a target painted on it saying "Look at me, spring is here!" Very bold, 6 petaled (actually 3 petals + 3 sepals), white flowers rimmed with deep maroon/purple. With up to 5 or more flowers on one little stem. It has 3 leaves, one basal, two wrapped from the stem (one in the mid section, the other under the flowers). The higher leaf looks like a hand holding the flower stem. It's been 10 years since we've seen one of these flowers and were so pleased to find them on Ellura. The top leaf being truncated at the point of narrowing is diagnostic. However, you need to ensure it hasn't been eaten! In the photo "Patch of Fruiting Females" you can see all the short upper leaves (hence ssp brevifolia), which are starting to dry & yellow. | |||||
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