Wurmbea deserticola (Wurmbea deserticola)
Description
Wurmbea dioica early Nancy is a herb that is native to Australia, widespread across all 6 states but unknown in the Northern Territory This plant takes its common name from its tendency to appear as one of the first flowering species of spring, with flowers appearing late in August and lasting until early October. Preferring areas clear of other organic debris, it can be found rather easily in open, sub-alpine grassland, where the feeding activities of Eastern grey kangaroos allow sunlight to reach and warm the ground, triggering the end of their winter dormancy. The species is dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female. Despite this, approximately 3–8% of plants may be cosexual I.e. they contain both male and female flowers, their floral traits generally being intermediate to those of the males and females. Males produce larger floral displays than females. Despite bein small and almost leafless, the species will rapidly colonise suitably sparse grassland, and can take only a few seasons to cover a large clearing in hundreds or thousands of small white flowers.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Liliales
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Family: Colchicaceae
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Genus: Wurmbea
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