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info@wildplantrescue.org.au

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 Dianella   tenuissima
BACKGROUND

Dianella tenuissima is a little-known species which was first described in 2006, specimens having been found in Wentworth Falls and the Newnes Plateau. As a relatively new species, it is not listed in the standard field guides, and plant ID apps (such as iNaturalist) don’t recognise it. As of early 2025, there were less than 30 records for the species in the Atlas of Living Australia, with records in Capertee, Mount Wilson, Mount Tomah, and the Grand Canyon area of Blackheath, on top of the original locations. Interestingly, in recent years they have also been sighted much further afield: around Mount Kembla, further south on the Illawarra escarpment overlooking Jamberoo, and near Fitzroy Falls in the southern highlands.

 

In the spring of 2025 there was a spate of new identifications: plants were found in the Gordon Creek area of Leura, in and around Banksia Park in South Katoomba, the Megalong Valley edge at Ngula Bulgarabang, and the Kanimbla Valley edge on the western side of Blackheath. Although there are so few records, Dianella tenuissima is not listed as a threatened species. It is classified as “data deficient” under IUCN Red List criteria. We want to overcome this deficiency.

 

It now appears that Dianella tenuissima is more widespread than previously thought, and may not be at all uncommon. In spring 2026, Wildplant Rescue hopes to mobilise the community to go out and look for this under-recorded plant, and to log its locations. The aim is firstly to raise community awareness of this special little plant in our midst, secondly to build a more accurate picture of its distribution and habitats, and thirdly to build up a bigger database of photographs and habitat information so that apps such as iNaturalist can accurately identify it.

There are lots of places for us to look!

Are they found further north than Capertee? Further west than Lidsdale? Further east than Wentworth Falls? Further south than Fitzroy Falls? And what about the big gap between the Blue Mountains and the South Coast and Southern Highlands?

 

DESCRIPTION

  • Doesn’t look anything like a Dianella!

  • Tufted grass-like herb to 0.5m high, bases dull red or reddish purple.

  • Inflorescence with 3-10 tiny pale violet flowers, lemon-yellow stamens, deep violet anthers, green in the middle (the “ovary”). The illustration shows the flower size relative to a finger.

  • Flowers very briefly around the first half of October. Flowers are only present for two or three weeks, often shorter than that.

  • The immature berry is green, maturing to an irridescent violet, 5-10mm long, 3-7mm diameter. Berries can still be seen on the plant for two or three months, until around late December.