Calectasia narragaraCommon name: Star of Bethlehem
Meaning of name: Calectasia is from the Greek words calos, meaning beautiful, and ectasia, meaning stretching out. It refers to the striking star-shaped perianth lobes. Narragara is a composite Nyoongar Aboriginal name for a star, chosen for the common name ‘Star of Bethlehem’ which has often been applied to this species.
Distribution: Occurs from Geraldton to Busselton.
Description: A shrub to 50 centimetres tall. Blue star-like flowers are produced from June to September. The anthers are yellow but turn orange-red with age.
References:Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.
Nuytsia, Volume 13 Number 3. Department of Conservation and Land Management. 2001.
Calectasia narragara has large yellow or orange anthers and iridescent blue or purple petals.
Calectasia narragara forms a small shrub with slender woody branches up to 0.3m high.
