Dianella caerulea
Plant Number : 29
Common Name: Blue
Flax Lily, Blueberry Lily
Scientific Name: Dianella caerulea
Derivation of name
Dianella – Dianella is the diminutive of Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting and queen of the woods and the original sp. was found in the woods of a French province
caerulea – is from a Latin word, 'caeruleus' meaning the deep blue of the Mediterranean sky at midday or 'caelum' meaning sky and is referring to the colour of the berries
Description
- Perennial herb which grows to 1 metre
- Leaves have a distinct midrib vein on the underside and contain small, sharp, teeth-like serrations at the base and leaf edge
- Flowers can be white/yellow to blue coloured in groups of 3-6 in spring and summer
- Fruit is spherical shaped, blue and 7-12 mm in diameter
Human uses
The traditional
Aboriginal use of this species included eating the raw and ripe fruit between
October and November, although only a few at a time. However, it is not recommended that this fruit is eaten as it is now regarded as poisonous (Source: Queensland Poisons Information Centre). The roots were pounded, roasted on hot coals
and also eaten. The fibrous leaves used to make waistbands, footwear, nets,
traps and baskets. During the colonial period the berries were used for making
a permanent blue dye.
Acknowledgement: Mountains to Mangroves, PlantNET, Bush Heritage, Save our Waterways