Habit: perennial herb to l m high; rootstock a bulb. Leaves: arising from
base of plant, smooth, narrow, slightly leathery, somewhat grass-like with
longitudinal venation, 45 - 75 cm x 0.2 - 1 cm, dull grey-green, pointed
tip, sheathed and V-shaped at base. Flowers: deep-red or orange-red, 0.5
-1.2 cm long, numerous in dense clusters on terminal branching inflorescences,
on long erect reddish stalk arising from base of plant. Fruit: flattish
globular, fleshy 3-lobed capsules, 0.7- lcm x 11.5cm, red when ripe, producing
red-purple juice when squeezed. Flowering: (Oct) Nov - Mar (Apr/May).
Fruiting: Nov-Mar (Apr/May). Features: dense, prominent heads of deep-red
flowers and fruit capsules on stiff erect stalks. Habitat: open woodland
and forest, on gravelly or shallow lateritic soils; woodland in sandstone
country. Aboriginal Uses -. flowers and roots used to produce purple-red
dye for baskets and bags; reportedly used against snake-bite; dry stems
sometimes used for fire-sticks. Dist: NT; QLD; PNG.
