Hispid tinsel lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hispid tinsel lily |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calectasia
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| Species: |
hispida
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
The Calectasia hispida, often called the blue tinsel lily or hispid tinsel lily, is a special plant. It belongs to the Dasypogonaceae family. This plant grows from underground stems, called rhizomes, and comes back every year. It forms clumps and stands upright.
This blue tinsel lily is found only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It is quite common in most areas where it grows. It looks a lot like other Calectasia plants. You can tell it apart mainly by its hairy leaves. Also, the inside of its flowers is smooth, unlike some others.
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What Does the Blue Tinsel Lily Look Like?
The Calectasia hispida is a small shrub. It grows from a short underground stem, which helps it create new plants nearby. It can grow up to about 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet) tall. It has many very short side branches.
Leaves and Flowers
Each leaf is about 3.9 to 10.3 millimeters long and 0.4 to 0.7 millimeters wide. The leaves get narrower at the end, forming a sharp point. They are also hispid, which means they are covered with stiff, bristly hairs.
The flower has parts that look like petals, called tepals. These form a tube at the bottom, about 6.8 to 9.0 millimeters long. This tube is smooth and does not have hairs. This is different from many other plants in its group.
The outer parts of the petals spread out like a star. They are a beautiful blue color and feel like paper. As the flower gets older, this blue color fades to a pale blue. In the middle of the star, there are six yellow parts called stamens. These stamens form a tube. They change color to orange-red as they get older. A thin stalk, called a style, sticks out beyond the stamens. You can see these lovely flowers from May to June or in September.
How the Blue Tinsel Lily Got Its Name
The Calectasia hispida is one of eleven different species in the Calectasia group. It was first described as a new species in 2001. Two scientists, R.L. Barrett and K.W. Dixon, named it. They found a sample of the plant near Watheroo National Park.
The second part of its scientific name, hispida, means "hairy." This name was chosen because the plant's leaves are covered with hairs.
Where Does the Blue Tinsel Lily Live?
This type of blue tinsel lily is quite common. You can find it between Gillingarra (which is near New Norcia) and Eneabba. It is also common in Watheroo National Park and Alexander Morrison National Park.
It usually grows in shallow white or grey sand. This sand is often found over a type of reddish soil called laterite. It likes to grow on slopes in areas known as kwongan, which are special shrublands in Western Australia.
Is the Blue Tinsel Lily Protected?
The Calectasia hispida is currently classified as not threatened. This means it is not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
