Dianella
(a diminutive of Diana, the sylvan goddess; in reference to the plants growing in woods). SYN. Rhuacophila. ORD. Liliaceae. Very ornamental fibrous-rooted half-hardy perennials. Flowers paniculate, on drooping pedicels; perianth six-cleft. Leaves grass-like. The species thrive, in sheltered spots in the southern counties, in a mixture of loam and peat. All succeed well planted out in the cool conservatory. Increased readily by divisions; or by seeds, sown in gentle heat, in spring. D. caerulea (sky-blue). fl. blue; branches of panicle short. May. l., stem ones long, numerous, ensiform, rough at the edge and keel. h. 2ft. New South Wales. (B. M. 505.) D. intermedia. (intermediate). fl. whitish, numerous, disposed in much-branched panicles 10in. to 18in. long. l.linear, ensiform. New Zealand. A free-growing species, producing bunches of pretty dark blue berries. D. laevis (smooth).* fl. bluish, in loose racemes; pedicels filiform, solitary, upright, distant, erecto-patent, scattered; corolla reflexed, inner segments ruled down the middle with three deeply-coloured lines, parallel with the axis of the segment; outer with five similar ones; filaments bent at the top, and connected by a joint with a short, thick, orange-coloured, irregularly oblong strumous body, on the inwardly shelving summit of which the anther is fixed by its base. Spring. l. bright green, ensiform, broad, smooth, and keeled. h. 2ft. New South Wales, 1822. SYN. D. strumosa. (B. R. 751.) D. strumosa (measly). A synonym of D. laevis.
D. tasmanica (Tasmanian).* fl. pale blue, drooping, 1/2in. to 3/4in. in diameter; panicles large, loose, decompoundly branched, very many-flowered; perianth segments oblong, reflexed. Berries deep blue, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, broadly oblong. l. 3ft. to 4ft. long, broadly ensiform, with revolute margins, armed with spinular teeth. Tasmania, 1866. A very ornamental, large, rigid, grassy-leaved plant, sometimes attaining a height of 5ft. It forms a conspicuous ornament for the conservatory, its chief beauty consisting in the abundance of bright blue berries, which hang for many weeks on the hair-like pedicels. (B. M. 5551.)