Plants of South Eastern New South Wales

Hypoxis hygrometrica

Flower (var. hygrometrica). Photographer Max Campbell, Brogo

Flower (var. villosisepala). Photographer Michael Sim, Canberra, ACT

Back of flower (var. villosisepala). Photographer Michael Sim, Canberra, ACT

Flowering plant (var. hygrometrica). Photographer Don Wood, north of Bodalla

Common name

Golden Weather Grass, Golden Star

Family

Hypoxidaceae

Where found

Forest, woodland, heath, grassy areas, and swampy areas. Widespread.

var. hygrometrica:  Widespread.

var. splendida:  Kosciuszko National Park. Tablelands and the western edge of the ranges south of Braidwood.

var. villosisepala:  Mostly in the Sydney area and ACT. Sometimes elsewhere.

Notes

Perennial herb to 0.25 m high, hairy to sparsely hairy. Leaves clustered at the base of the plant, 3-20 cm long, 0.5-4 mm wide, flat or folded, sparsely hairy, tapering to a fine tip, the basal sheaths often persisting as a papery or fibrous tunic around the fleshy, swollen, underground, stem base. Flowers bright yellow, with 6 'petals' 6-15 mm long, hairless to to moderately hairy outside, stamens 3–7 mm long, with filaments alternately long and short. 1-6 flower stems per plant, in clusters of 1-2. Flowers spring-autumn.

var. hygrometrica:  Leaves usually 4–20 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide. 'petals' 6–11 mm long, hairless or almost hairless on the outer surface. Anthers usually A shaped, attached at the middle with the bottom ends free and joined at the top. Flowers usually single, sometimes in clusters of 1–3.

All native plants on unleased land in the ACT are protected.

var. splendida:  Leaves 3–18 cm long, 1.2–4 mm wide. 'petals' 8–12 mm long, hairless or almost hairless on the outer surface. Anthers attached at the base and erect, shortly forked at the top. Flowers usually single, sometimes in clusters of 1–3.

Data deficient Vic..

var. villosisepala:  Leaves 6.5–20 cm long, 0.5–4 mm wide. 'petals' 7–15 mm long, at least the outer 'petals' sparsely to moderately hairy on the outer surface. Anthers usually H shaped, attached at the middle with both ends free. Flowers in clusters of 2-6.

All native plants on unleased land in the ACT are protected.

PlantNET description of species and key to varieties:  http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Hypoxis~hygrometrica (accessed 19 January, 2021)