Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Iridaceae Juss.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Libertia Spreng., Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 1, 127 (1824 [1825]), nom. cons.
Synonymy:
  • = Tekel Adans., Fam. Pl. 2, 497 (1763) nom. rej. – as Tekelia Scop.
  • = Tekelia Scop., Intr. Hist. Nat. 88 (1777) nom. rej. – as Tekel Adans.
  • = Nematostigma A.Dietr., Sp. Pl., ed. 6. 2, 509 (1833)
Type Taxon:
Libertia ixioides (G.Forst.) Spreng.
 Description

Panicles laxly branched or with dense clusters of flowers, sometimes simple; sterile spathes foliaceous, floral bracts membranaceous. Flowers usually white, rarely blue. Perianth spreading; tepals free, the outer three (sepals) usually smaller than the inner three (petals). Stamens three, staminal filaments very shortly connate at the base, ± flattened; anthers versatile. Pollen ellipsoidal, monosulcate. Ovary 3- locular; style short with 3 ± keeled entire branches that spread between stamens. Fruit a subglobose to oblong or pyriform capsule. Seeds many, rounded to angular, ± reticulate-foveolate. Tufted, shortly rhizomatous or stoloniferous herbs of grass-like habit, wholly or almost completely glabrous. Leaves usually in flattened fans, connected by short or elongate rhizomes. Perennial (Moore & Edgar 1970).

[Reproduced from Blanchon et al. (2002, New Zealand J. Bot. 40: 437–456) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species and named hybrids in New Zealand within Libertia Spreng.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)9
Exotic: Casual2
Total11
 Bibliography
Adanson, M. 1763: Familles des Plantes. Vol. 2. Vincent, Paris.
Blanchon, D. J.; Murray, B. G.; Braggins, J. E. 2002: A taxonomic revision of Libertia (Iridaceae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 40: 437–456.
Blanchon, D. J.; Weaver, J.S. 2009: Libertia flaccidifolia (Iridaceae), a new species from Mt Tamahunga, Norhtland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 317–324.
Dietrich, A.G. 1833: Species Plantarum. Editio sexta. Vol. 2.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Scopoli, J.A. 1777: Introductio ad Historiam Naturalem Sistens Genera Lapidum, Plantarum et Animalium Hactenus Detecta, Caracteribus Essentialibus Donata, in Tribus Divisa, Subinde ad Leges Naturae. Pragae [Praha].
Sprengel, C.P.J. 1824: Systema vegetabilium [Caroli Linnaei ... ]. Editio decima sexta. Vol. 1. Göttingen.