Dilatris pillansii

Dilatris pillansii is a rhizomatous perennial, the rootstock bright red.

The rigid, narrow leaves are strap-like, growing in a fan-shape, edgewise with respect to the stem. The leaves are about 4 mm wide and equitant, i.e. the leaf base is folded and enclosing the next leaf above it.

Pale blue and white flowers can be seen on the left, while the flat-topped panicle on the right has already withered to a red-brown colour.

The species distribution is in the coastal southwest of the Western Cape from the Cape Peninsula to around Bredasdorp, northwards to the Cederberg and Worcester.

The habitat is fynbos slopes on sandstone. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century.

D. pillansii is one of four species in a genus found in the fynbos (Bean and Johns, 2005; Mustart, et al, 1997; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).