Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 282 ( 1810).

Derivation: Greek thysanotos, fringed; alluding to the 3 inner perianth-segments.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Fringe-lilies.

Description:
Perennials, erect or twining, some leafless and others with radical leaves and usually blue or mauve flowers, occasionally white.

perianth of 6 free segments, 3-5-nerved along the centre, the 3 inner broader and almost always fimbriate on the edge, the segments persisting after flowering, the outer ones enclosing the inner ones and both remaining non-twisted; stamens 6 (3 in some Western Australian species) attached to the receptacle and arranged somewhat zygomorphically, anther dehiscence by terminal pores or occasionally by longitudinal slits; ovary 3-celled, with 2 to many superposed ovules in each cell; style filiform, undivided.

Capsule globular to somewhat cylindrical, 3-valved, with black arillate seeds, the aril often yellow-orange coloured.

Distribution:  About 51 Australian species, 2 extending to Papua New Guinea and another also in Papua New Guinea but extending to Thailand, mainland China, Hong Kong and the Philippines. (Brittan (1981) Brunonia 4:67-181.)

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Stems twining or prostrate	T. patersonii 6.
1. Stems not twining, erect
2. Roots tuberous, leaves present, sometimes marcescent before flowering, inflorescence produced annually, branched or unbranched
3. Inflorescence unbranched or with 1 or 2 (occasionally 4) simple branches, ascending; umbels all terminal or terminal and sessile
4. Ovules 6 (2 per cell)
5. Umbels one terminal and others sessile at intervals on scape or branches; flowers blue; leaves glabrous; tubers elongated, distant from stock	T. baueri 1.
5. Umbels terminal only; flowers mauve, leaves and scape with minute tubercles; tubers close (occasionally distant) to stock	T. tenellus 7.
4. Ovules more than 6 (Port Lincoln)	T. nudicaulis 5.
3. Inflorescence a panicle (umbels all terminal or pedunculate)
6. Branches thin, flexible, ascending; leaves usually present at flowering; tubers close to stock (SE region)	T. tuberosus 8.
6. Branches stiff, patent; leaves usually absent at flowering; tubers distant from stock (NW, LE and GT regions)	T. exiliflorus 2.
2. Roots non-tuberous, produced from rhizome; leaves normally absent or marcescent before flowering; stems ridged, glabrous, hirsute or tuberculate on ridges; flowers produced on perennial vegetative stems
7. Stem branching zig-zag (EP, KI)	T. fractiflexus 3.
7. Stem branching monopodial or pseudodichotomous
8. Stem glabrous, may be hirsute at extreme base; branching monopodial; habit more or less erect	T. juncifolius 4.
8. Stem more or less minutely tuberculate; branching monopodial or pseudodichotomous; habit spreading (EP)	T. wangariensis 9.

Author: Prepared by N. H. Brittan