Blandfordia punicea

Taxobox
name = Tasmanian Christmas Bell


image_width = 240px
image_caption =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Blandfordiaceae
genus = "Blandfordia"
species = " B. punicea "
binomial = " Blandfordia punicea "
binomial_authority = (Labill.) Sweet
synonyms=
*"Aletris punicea" Labill.
*"Blandfordia backhousii" Lindl. nom. inval.
*"Blandfordia grandiflora" var. backhousii Hook.f.
*"Blandfordia grandiflora" var. intermedia (Herb.) Baker
*"Blandfordia grandiflora" var. marginata (Herb.) Hook.f.
*"Blandfordia marginata" Herb.

"Blandfordia punicea", commonly known as Tasmanian Christmas Bell, is a species of flowering plant which is native to western Tasmania in Australia.

The bell-shaped flowers are red with yellow tips and are about 4 cm long. They occur in a terminal raceme on a stalk up to 1 metre in height and are usually very prominent in their native habitat, often rising above ground-level vegetation between mid-spring and early autumn. The leaves, which are strap-like and slightly serrated on the edges, range between 15 and 45 cm in length.

An Australian 50c stamp depicting the species was issued on February 13, 2007.

References

*Cochrane, G.R., Fuhrer, B.A., Rotherdam, E.M., Simmons, J.& M. and Willis, J.H. (1980) "Flowers and Plants of Victoria and Tasmania" , A.H. & A.W. Reed, Sydney.
*APNI | name = "Blandfordia punicea" (Labill.) Sweet | id = 1513
* [http://www.australiapost.com.au/download/Bulletin286.pdf Australian Stamp Bulletin No. 286 January - March 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.anbg.gov.au/images/photo_cd/LH3124GJ01283/010.html Australian National Botanic Gardens: "Blandfordia punicea" (Image)]