Romulea minutiflora
Common name
small-flowered onion grass
Family
Iridaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Monocots
Conservation status
Not applicable
Distribution
Common in dry grassland on the Canterbury Plains (including Kaitorete Spit). A few records from coastal areas in the Wellington Region.
Native to South Africa. Recognised as an environmental weed in Australia.
Habitat
Dry grassland and coastal sites.
Similar taxa
Romulea minutiflora could be confused with Pauridia glabella (they often occur in the same dryland habitats on the Canterbury Plains), but P. glabella has bright yellow flowers (rather than pink-lilac), the seed head is smaller and does not split open to form papery ‘wings’, and the seeds are black (rather than red-brown as in R. minutiflora).
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, Lilac
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Melissa Hutchison (2 November 2023).