Plants of South Eastern New South Wales

Xyris ustulata

Common name

Yellow flag

Family

Xyridaceae

Where found

Damp or swampy areas, often in heath. Ranges north of west of Milton.

Notes

Perennial herb. Flower stalks to 1.5 m long, cylindrical or 3- or 4-angled in cross section, smooth. Leaves clustered at the base of the plant, 30–90 cm long, about 1 mm in diameter, flattened cylindrical, sheathing base 7–17 cm long, deep red to black, shiny. Flowers yellow, with 3 petals each 5–9 mm long. Flower buds contained within a tight oval to oval brownish head 12–19 mm long, 10–12 mm in diameter. Flowers opening one at a time from within the flower cluster, rarely 2 flowers open at the same time. Flowering: late spring to summer.

PlantNET description with line drawings:  http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Xyris~ustulata (accessed 12 February, 2021)