About Patersonia umbrosa Endl.
Patersonia umbrosa Endl. is a loosely-tufted perennial herb. It has linear to sword-shaped leaves that measure 300–900 mm (12–35 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. Its glabrous flowering scape is 300–800 mm (12–31 in) long. The sheath that encloses the flowers is narrowly lance-shaped, green, prominently veined, and 60–85 mm (2.4–3.3 in) long. The outer tepals are egg-shaped to rhombic, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.38 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) wide, and are colored deep bluish violet or bright yellow depending on the variety. The hypanthium tube of this species is about 50 mm (2.0 in) long. Two varieties of Patersonia umbrosa occur in south-western Western Australia with distinct distributions and habitats. Variety umbrosa grows in scrub, woodland, and forest on poorly-drained soil, in areas between the Deep River, Stirling Range, and Fitzgerald River within the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Warren biogeographic regions. Variety xanthina grows in forest, ranging from the southern Darling Range to the Deep River within the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren biogeographic regions.
