Calectasia narragara

Calectasia narragara, commonly known as a blue tinsel lily or star of Bethlehem, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a tufted rhizomatous herb.

The outer part of the petals is blue with bronze margins and spread outwards to form a papery, star-like pattern that fades to white with age.

It is similar to the other species of Calectasia and is distinguished from them by a combination of the presence of a short, compact rhizome, lack of stilt leaves, the glabrousness of the leaf blades and the change in colour of the petals and stamens with age.

[1] This species of blue tinsel lily is widespread and common within 80 kilometres of the coast on the Swan Coastal Plain and Darling Scarp from Busselton north to Geraldton, in the South West Botanical Province.

It usually grows in a wide range of vegetation associations and habitats, including kwongan, woodland on white, grey, or yellow sand, and occasionally in swampy areas.

Calectasia narragara in Talbot Road Reserve, Swan View
Calectasia narragara older flower with red stamens