Sparaxis tricolor Ker Gawl.

Plants mostly 300-400 mm high, with 1 to 3(-5) branches from base. Corms 10-20 mm diam., tunics of fine, pale, netted fibres. Leaves 5 to 10 in a basal fan, narrowly sword-shaped, acuminate, reaching ± to base of spike, 10-20 mm wide, closely veined with prominent main vein. Spike suberect, ± straight, 2-to 5-flowered, initially 2-ranked but ultimately subsecund; bracts dry, crinkled, light translucent brown with darker streaks, without visible veins, outer 20-30 mm long, narrowly deltoid, entire, later upper margins lacerate, inner usually slightly shorter, forked apically. Flowers radially symmetric, bright orange-scarlet, yellow in centre broadly edged with dark red-brown, unscented; perianth tube funnel-shaped, 9-12 mm long, lower narrow part ± 4.5 mm; tepals subequal, broadly lanceolate-ovate, 25-35 mm, outer 15-20 mm wide, inner 13-16 wide. Stamens symmetrically arranged; filaments 6-7 mm long, closely surrounding style, yellow; anthers linear, 8-9 mm long, weakly diverging, pale yellow; pollen white. Style dividing opposite lower 1/3 of anthers, branches 2-3 mm long, expanded in distal 1/3, notched at apex. Capsules ± barrel-shaped, 6-7 mm long, showing outline of seeds. Seeds globose, glossy reddish brown, ± 2.0-2.5 mm diam., 4 to 8 per locule.

Recorded from along roadsides, nature strips, parkland, vacant land, old gardens, cemeteries, weedy and grassy areas, disturbed bushland, mallee, mostly in urban areas and near settlements, often a localised garden escape near present or past plantings.

Cultivated as a garden ornamental, in pots, garden beds and lawns. Many named hybrids have been produced using this species, including 'Fire King' and 'Gallipoli' (Cooke 2005: 258).

Can be grown by seedlings.