Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority - Thysanotus manglesianus

Common name: Mangles’ Fringed Lily

Family: ASPARAGACEAE

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Origin of Scientific Name

Thysanotus – (Greek) fringed, referring to the inner perianth-segments.

manglesianus – after Captain James Mangles (1786–1867), naturalist and patron of botanical collecting who distributed many Western Australian seeds to English nurseries and gardens after collection by James Drummond, Georgiana Molloy and others.

Description

Thysanotus manglesianus is a twining, leafless perennial herb that climbs 0.2–2 m high and is naturally occurring from Shark Bay to Balladonia in Western Australia.

From August to November, Mangles’ Fringed Lily produces stunning purple flowers with fringed petals and anthers of unequal length. This species can be easily confused with T. patersonii (Twining Fringe Lily) which has anthers in equal length; however, Mangles’ Fringed Lily is more common in Kings Park bushland.

Thysanotus manglesianus and several other species of Thysanotus are available on occasion from the Friends of Kings Park plant sales, although T. manglesianus is not so common in cultivation. If you love the form of this flower, try growing Thysanotus multiflorus, a grass-like version of this genus available at Western Australian native plant nurseries and seeds available from Aspects of Kings Park.

Horticultural tips

Plant in well-drained soils in part to full sun.
Flowers open daily in the sun and close at night.

For more horticultural tips view our Plant Notes section.

View in Kings Park

Visit Kings Park and Botanic Garden to see Thysanotus manglesianus growing naturally in Kings Park Bushland and in Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park (refer to map).