by Alannah Benson

Have you been walking through your Park Lands and smelled the scent of chocolate?

You might have gone past a herbaceous perennial herb, known as the Chocolate Lily (Arthropodium strictum).

Belonging to the Liliaceae family, the Chocolate Lily is native to Australia, found in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.

In your Park Lands, you may spot the Chocolate Lily, where it has been recorded, in Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W), Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16), John E. Brown Park (Park 27A), and more.

This species has a mauve colour (deep pink/lilac shade), with dark anthers, and has star-shaped flowers.

The Chocolate Lily flowers between September to December and grows up to 1 metre in height.    

A close relative of the Chocolate Lily, also native to Australia, is the Nodding Chocolate Lily (Arthropodium fimbriatum).

The Nodding Chocolate Lily can be found in your Adelaide Park Lands and has a similar appearance to the Chocolate Lily.

The Nodding Chocolate Lily also has a chocolate scent but has narrow leaves, whereas the Chocolate Lily has a broader leaf shape.  

Next time you’re in the Park Lands, see if you can stop and smell the chocolate scent from the beautiful Chocolate Lily!

***

Want to know more about the plants in your Park Lands? Head over to iNaturalist, where you can record, share, and discuss your findings with fellow naturalists.

There is an iNaturalist page that can show you exactly where citizen scientists (like you!) have observed the Chocolate Lily.

See the other plants featured in this series here:

https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/know-your-park-lands-plants

Main photo at top: Warren Cameron (iNaturalist)