Iphigenia indica – redux

The 'redux' suffix on the label simply indicates restocked material; the plant is indeed Iphigenia indica. Native to tropical Asia (India, China, Southeast Asia) through to Australia, this small geophyte of the Colchicaceae family grows in grassland and open woodland from sea level to over 2000 m. A tunicated fleshy corm produces a tuft of narrow, grass-like leaves and a slender 10-25 cm stem bearing, in spring and summer, 2 to 10 small star-shaped flowers with narrow, dark purple to almost blackish tepals. It requires sun, well-drained soil, and dry summer dormancy.