Arthropodium

Location & distribution maps

Common name:         . . .

Conservation status: . . .

Etymology:   

Flowers:                  

Fruit:                         

Leaves:         

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

• A genus of herbaceous perennial plants 

Habitat:   

Distribution:                  

• Members of this genus are native to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Madagascar

Species:                     

• World:           ~ 9

• Australia:     ~ 4

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • Species accepted as of July 2014 are:

    • Arthropodium bifurcatum Heenan, A.D.Mitch. & de Lange – New Zealand North Island

    • Arthropodium caesioides H.Perrier – Madagascar

    • Arthropodium candidum Raoul – New Zealand North and South Islands

    • Arthropodium cirratum (G.Forst.) R.Br. – rengarenga, renga lily, New Zealand rock lily, or maikaika – New Zealand North and South Islands

    • Arthropodium curvipes S.Moore – Western Australia

    • Arthropodium dyeri (Domin) Brittan – Western Australia

    • Arthropodium milleflorum (Redouté) J.F.Macbr. – pale vanilla lily – New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania

    • Arthropodium minus R.Br. – small vanilla lily – New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania

    • Arthropodium neocaledonicum Baker – New Caledonia

    • Formerly included species

    • Arthropodium fimbriatum R.Br. – see Dichopogon fimbriatus

    • Arthropodium strictum R.Br. – chocolate lily – see Dichopogon strictus

• Human uses

  • The rhizomes of some species can be eaten as root vegetables, including A. cirratum, A. milleflorum, A. minus, and A. strictum

  • A. cirratum is native to New Zealand, where it may once have been farmed

  • It is used for medicine as well as food, and has symbolic importance in traditional Māori culture

Sources of information:

•  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthropodium (2024)