Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Liliales Perleb
Family
Alstroemeriaceae Dumort.
Genus
Alstroemeria L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Alstroemeria aurea Graham, Edinburgh New Philos. J. 15: 181 (1833)
Synonymy:
  • = Alstroemeria aurantiaca D.Don
 Description

Erect perennial, to 1 m high. Rhizome slender, hard, woody, c. 5 mm diam., with some roots becoming fleshy. Stems purplish and sometimes woody below with short, acute, membranous bracts, green and leafy above. Leaves thin, ± glaucous below, c. 6–13 × 0.5–2 cm, narrow-linear to lanceolate to ± elliptic, many-nerved, midrip ± indistinct, petiole short, narrow, twisted, with short sheath. Umbel compound, with 3–6 primary rays c. 5 cm long, each ultimate branch bearing 1–3 flowers, bases of primary and secondary rays with bract-like leaves similar to, and not much shorter or narrower than foliage leaves. Flowers c. 5 cm long, 1.5–3 cm diam., bright yellow with reddish markings; segments free, clawed, outer oblong, reddish-tinged towards green obtuse tip, inner slightly longer and much narrower than outer, acute, 2 upper with red-purple streaks. Capsule c. 2 × 1.5 cm, longitudinally 6-ribbed, with smooth apiculate cap.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3 as Alstroemeria aurantiaca D.Don]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Bibliography
1987: Hydatellaceae to Liliaceae. In: George, A.S. (ed.) Flora of Australia. Vol. 45. ABRS and CSIRO, Melbourne.
Conran, J.G. 1987: Hydatellaceae to Liliaceae. George, A.S. (ed.) Flora of Australia. Vol. 45. ABRS and CSIRO, Melbourne.
Graham, R. 1833: Description of several new or rare plants which have lately flowered in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, and chiefly in the Royal Botanic Garden. Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal 15: 181–184.
Hobbs, J.; Hatch, T. 1994: Bulbs for New Zealand Gardens. Godwit Press, Auckland.
Parsons, M.J.; Douglass, P.; Macmillan, B.H. 1998: Current Names List for wild Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons (except Grasses) of New Zealand as used in Herbarium CHR. Version 1, to 31 Dec 1995. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.