Hesperantha coccinea
Synonyms
Schizostylis coccinea Backh. & Harvey
Family
Iridaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Monocots
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
Stunning bright crimson, rose or white flowers produced in autumn, a leafy plant up to 90 cm tall, with fan-shaped flattened leaves (iris-like).
Distribution
Local and scattered throughout both islands, but common in parts of Westland and irrigation channels in Canterbury.
Habitat
Margins of flowing and still water bodies, drains.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FACW: Facultative Wetland
Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Tufted rhizomatous evergreen perennial. Stems 60-90 cm × ± 3 mm, stiff, erect. Leaves < stems, to 30 × 1 cm, stiff, erect, slightly fleshy; 4-5 basal, distichous; 3-4 shorter, cauline; upper bract-like. Spikes 10-15-flowered; spathe-valves 2, green, tinged purple, 2.5- (3) cm long, ± = tube. Flowers c. 5 cm long, ± 5 cm diam., bright crimson; tube very narrow throughout, brownish, ± = widely spreading, ovate, acute lobes. Styles-branches 3- (4), slender, subulate, red, ± 2 cm long. Capsule 1.5 × 1 cm, oblong. Seeds ± 1.5 mm long, angled, brown.
Similar taxa
No other member of the iris family has such bright red flowers, but could be confusing in its vegetative stage with montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora), distinguished by the lack of underground corms.
Flowering
March to May
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Fruiting
Winter
Life cycle
Deliberate planting, with subsequent seed dispersal by water or contaminated machinery.
Year naturalised
1958
Origin
South Africa
Reason for introduction
Ornamental plant
Control techniques
Not controlled in New Zealand.
Attribution
Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA). Features description from Healy and Edgar (1980).
References and further reading
Healy, A.J.; Edgar, E. (1980). Flora of New Zealand, Volume III. Adventive Cyperaceous, Petalous and Spathaceous Monocotyledons. Government Printer, Wellington. 220pp.
Johnson PN, Brooke PA (1989). Wetland plants in New Zealand. DSIR Field Guide, DSIR Publishing, Wellington. 319pp.
Champion et al (2012). Freshwater Pests of New Zealand. NIWA publication. http://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/management-tools/identification-guides-and-fact-sheets/freshwater-pest-species