New Zealand lilyplant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• New Zealand lilyplant
• umbrella-dracaena
• cerulean flax-lily

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dianella ensifolia f. racemulifera
• Dianella forsteri
• Phalangium japonicum
• Dianella sparsiflora var. flabellata
• Dianella ensifolia f. straminea
• Dianella nemorosa f. racemulifera
• Dianella montana
• Dianella mauritiana
• Dianella pullei
• Dianella straminea
• Eustrephus javanicus
• Dianella albiflora
• Dianella ensata
• Dianella ensifolia f. albiflora
• Dracaena ensata
• Dracaena ensifolia
• Dianella nemorosa f. caeruloides
• Anthericum japonicum
• Walleria paniculata
• Dianella ledermannii
• Liliago japonica
• Dianella flabellata
• Charlwoodia ensata
• Cordyline ensifolia
• Dianella humilis
• Dianella robusta
• Dianella odorata f. racemulifera
• Dianella monticola
• Dianella obscura
• Dianella parviflora
• Dianella parviflora
• Dianella philippensis
• Dianella carinata
• Conanthera forsteri
• Dianella nemorosa f. gracilis
• Dianella nemorosa f. pallescens
• Dianella nemorosa f. aspera
• Dianella nemorosa f. robusta
• Dianella sparsiflora var. carinata
• Dianella sparsiflora var. parviflora
• Dianella sparsiflora var. albiflora
• Dianella sparsiflora var. ledermannii
• Dianella sparsiflora var. monticola
• Dianella sparsiflora var. pullei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Dianella ensifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Asparagales and the family Asphodelaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Dianella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct regions in the Southern Hemisphere. Within South Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in the countries of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Its range also extends significantly into the Western Indian Ocean. In this maritime region, the species is documented on the island of Madagascar. Furthermore, its presence is noted on the islands of Mauritius and Réunion.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dianella ensifolia is characterized by its presence in diverse environments, ranging from lush rain forests to the more rugged, shrubby terrain of maquis (scrubland). This species exhibits a significant altitudinal distribution, thriving across a broad elevational gradient that begins at 500 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. On average, the plant is found at a mean elevation of approximately 1700 m AMSL, indicating a strong preference for mid-to-high altitude ecological niches within its native habitats.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest, maquis (scrubland)

Life history

The life history of Dianella ensifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter, which facilitates its survival in various environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dianella ensifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant typically grows in a self-supporting manner, lacking the climbing habits of vines or lianas, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, it reaches a maximum height of approximately 2 meters, with an average height of 1.5 meters, and a minimum height of 1 meter.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dianella ensifolia is characterized by its specific metabolic and morphological adaptations, most notably its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits significant variation in its leaf dimensions, which are critical to its energy production and surface area management. The leaves typically range in length from a minimum of 30 cm to a mean of 55 cm, with some individuals reaching a maximum length of 80 cm. In terms of width, the foliage is relatively narrow, varying from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate rather than through symbiotic diazotrophic processes.

Leaf length max:

80 cm

Leaf length mean:

55 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dianella ensifolia is characterized by its distinct inflorescence and specialized fruit characteristics. The plant produces an inflorescence that varies in length from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.4 m. The resulting fruits are fleshy in texture, featuring a consistent fruit length of 0.6 cm (with a minimum, maximum, and mean all measured at 0.6 cm), while the fruit width exhibits significant variation, ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a mean of 3.3 cm and a maximum of 0.6 cm. The seeds produced are uniform in size, maintaining a constant seed volume of 19 mm³ across minimum, mean, and maximum values. Regarding the dispersal of these reproductive units, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the spread of its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

3.3 cm

Fruit width min:

6 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.4 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Seed volume max:

19 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dianella ensifolia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2,4-dimethoxy-3-methylphenyl)propane.

1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2,4-dimethoxy-3-methylphenyl)propane

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Dianella ensifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Tyrosinase-Inhibitor.

Tyrosinase-Inhibitor

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Conditions

Dianella ensifolia has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Natural product research