Description: Tufted perennial herbs; roots fibrous; true aerial stems condensed, leafy.
Leaves with sheath closed at apex.
Inflorescence cymose. Tepals subequal, spreading or recurved. Staminal filaments ± fusiform, papillose-barbellate from near base to near apex; anthers dehiscing longitudinally by slits, introrse, recurved or coiled after dehiscence.
Fruit a loculicidal capsule, dark brown or black; seeds shining.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 3 species, endemic Australia. Australia: Qld, N.S.W., Vic., Tas.
Thelionema is sometimes placed in the family Hemerocallidaceae.
Text by K.L. Wilson
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Inflorescence held amongst the leaves; leaf blades 1–4 mm wide, with several prominent rounded veins on lower surface; tepals 4.3–8 mm long | Thelionema umbellatum |
| Inflorescence exceeding leaves; leaf blades 2–28 mm wide, with midvein keeled (usually acutely) on lower surface and more prominent than lateral veins; tepals 8–14 mm long | 2 |
| 2 | Leaf blades 2–12 mm wide, minutely but strongly papillose on lower surface; seeds smooth | Thelionema caespitosum |
| Leaf blades 11–28 mm wide, not or weakly papillose on lower surface; seeds minutely reticulate to minutely warty
Back to 1 | Thelionema grande |
|
