What is "libertia"

Libertia is a genus of monocotyledenous plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1824. It is native to South America, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand. Several of species are endemic to New Zealand.

They are all perennials growing from short woody rhizomes, with simple, linear or narrowly lanceolate basal leaves which are often green but may be red or yellow depending on the species. The showy white trimerous flowers are open in spring and are followed by capsules opening by three valves which contain the numerous black seeds.

The genus was named after the Belgian botanist Marie-Anne Libert (1782–1865) (also referred to as Anne-Marie Libert).

1. Libertia chilensis (Molina) Gunckel - central + southern Chile, southern Argentina, Juan Fernández Islands
2. Libertia colombiana R.C.Foster - Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
3. Libertia cranwelliae Blanchon, B.G.Murray & Braggins - North Island of New Zealand
4. Libertia edgariae Blanchon, B.G.Murray & Braggins - North Island of New Zealand
5. Libertia falcata Ravenna - Los Lagos region of Chile
6. Libertia flaccidifolia Blanchon & J.S.Weaver - North Island of New Zealand
7. Libertia grandiflora (R.Br.) Sweet - North + South Islands of New Zealand
8. Libertia insignis Ravenna - Los Lagos region of Chile
9. Libertia ixioides (G.Forst.) Spreng. - North + South Islands of New Zealand
10. Libertia mooreae Blanchon, B.G.Murray & Braggins - North + South Islands of New Zealand
11. Libertia paniculata (R.Br.) Spreng. - eastern Australia - Branching Grass Flag
12. Libertia peregrinans Cockayne & Allan - North + South + Chatham Islands of New Zealand
13. Libertia pulchella (R.Br.) Spreng. - New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, North + South Islands of New Zealand, New Guinea
14. Libertia sessiliflora (Poepp.) Skottsb. - central Chile
15. Libertia tricocca Phil. - central + southern Chile
16. Libertia umbellata Ravenna - Los Lagos region of Chile

Numerous names have been coined using the name Libertia, referring to species that are now regarded as better suited to other genera ( Bromus Cardiocrinum Hosta Orthrosanthus). We provide links to help you find appropriate information.