Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Watsonia borbonica

Family

Iridaceae

Flowering season

April to July

English distribution

Isles of Scilly

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Bugle-lily

Habitat

It is a neophyte from South Africa which has been

cultivated in the Tresco Abbey Gardens.

It has escaped and grows in hedgerows and dunes,

mainly on

Tresco.

Description

Bugle-lily is a cormous herb growing up to 1m.

The white flowers are on a long spike.

Tepals are fused to form a curved perianth tube and

corolla lobes.

There are 3 stamens with white filaments and cream

anthers.

The style has 3 linear bifid branches. These are

difficult to see so I have illustrates this with one from

a pink Watsonia variety.

 Leaves are iris-like and up to 60cm.