Thysanotus patersonii R.Br.

Rootstock small; roots tuberous; tubers c. 2-5 cm long, sessile or shortly pedicellate, ellipsoidal. Leaves annual, produced infrequently, 1 or 2, terete, 10-20 cm long. Stems l, occasionally 2, annual, leafless, terete and hirsute at base, quadrangular and glabrous above, 10-100 cm long, twining round vegetation or prostrate; branches usually many, simple to many times dichotomous. Flowers single on branches; pedicels 1-2 mm long, articulated very close to base. Perianth segments c. 8-10.5 mm long. Sepals linear-lanceolate, c. 2-3 mm wide. Petals elliptic, 4-6 mm wide; fimbriae 0.5-1 mm long. Stamens 6; anthers equal, 2-6 mm long, straight to slightly curved, dehiscing by slits. Style straight to curved, 3-4 mm long. Seeds ±spherical, c. 1 mm diam.; aril straw-coloured.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in all Australian states. It grows in heathland and grassland. In Tasmania it grows in dry sandy forest from sea level to 1000 m altitude. It does best in light to medium, well-drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought but sensitive to frost. Tasmanian Herbarium.

The tubers are eaten raw or roasted.

Plants regrow from dormant root tubers each year. Plants can be grown from seed.