Perth Branch Monthly Meeting – “Native Lilies of Western Australia” presented by Andrew Brown

Often called early nancies or native lilies, Wurmbea species are members of the Colchicaceae family which also includes the common Western Australian genus Burchardia. All Wurmbea species have an underground corm which is dormant over summer. Plants resprout following autumn rainfall, with most species flowering in late Autumn and Winter.  Some 52 species are found in WA, most of which are endemic to the state. Twenty WA species are named and an incredible 32 are currently unnamed, many having only recently been discovered. In today’s talk I will start with a selection of the named species and then cover some of the unnamed species that have been found in recent years.

Photo by Andrew Brown.