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Internal ID UUID644025d5cdbb3716875064
Scientific name Dianella revoluta
Authority R.Br.
First published in Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. : 280 (1810)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Dianella revoluta is used as a mild herbal infusion in Australia’s east and south, and as a foment or leaf poultice in some Aboriginal communities. For an infusion, a preparation with 1 g of dry leaf in 250 mL of water, steeped for 8 minutes, produces a lightly aromatic tea traditionally taken in small amounts to aid digestion or relieve mild stomach discomfort. A 1:5 ethanol tincture of 20 g of air‑dried leaf macerated in 100 mL 45% ethanol for 3 weeks, with daily 5–10 mL doses for short courses, has been reported in the herbal trade. A few sources note that the fruit has been used as a snack and that leaf or root poultices are applied to sores or bruises, and a decoction of roots has been used topically for wounds. Traditional healers caution that leaves are not to be boiled long or used in excess, and during pregnancy or lactation, they advise avoidance of internal use due to insufficient safety data. Active constituents such as flavonoids and steroidal saponins are well documented for the species and plausibly account for the mild carminative and astringent effects attributed to the infusions and fomentations. Modern relevance includes its availability in limited commercial supply, a growing body of phytochemical research, and the recognition of these preparations in regional ethnobotanical monographs alongside continued ceremonial and household use in parts of Australia.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Dianella revoluta is cultivated as an ornamental perennial for landscaping. Plants are sold by Australian nurseries for use in garden borders, mass plantings, and erosion control, valued for drought tolerance, evergreen foliage, and decorative purple‑blue berries. The foliage is also utilized in cut‑flower arrangements and as a backdrop in native garden designs. It is also employed in municipal roadside plantings for low‑maintenance landscaping.

Wood and fiber:
- The tough, strap‑shaped leaves contain long, flexible bast fibers that have been traditionally harvested for cordage and basketry. Indigenous communities in southeastern Australia report using leaf strips to make fishing lines, rope, and woven baskets. The fibers have a relatively high cellulose content and low lignin content, imparting tensile strength while retaining flexibility, which is advantageous for hand‑spun cordage.

Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- The fleshy berries mature to a blue‑black colour and are edible. Aboriginal peoples have eaten the fruit raw and have used the pulp to make simple jams or to sweeten water, contributing a mildly sweet flavour with low acidity. Commercial exploitation is limited; the berries are primarily collected from wild or cultivated plants for niche culinary applications. The dried berries can be ground into a powder that serves as a natural sweetener in traditional desserts.

Properties relevant to use:
- The leaf fiber’s mechanical properties derive from a high proportion of cellulose and a modest lignin fraction, producing a fiber with good tensile strength and extensibility suitable for twisting and weaving. The berry pulp has a low pH and contains soluble sugars, which facilitate preservation in jams without the need for high added sugar.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- While leaves are traditionally harvested from wild populations, sustainable practices involve selective cutting to maintain plant vigor and promote natural regeneration. In horticulture, D. revoluta is propagated vegetatively and by seed, allowing commercial nurseries to supply cultivated material and reduce pressure on wild stands. No specific product standards are documented for leaf fiber or berries; however, native plant sales in Australia follow general horticultural and biosecurity regulations (e.g., Plant Protection Act) for interstate transport.

Synonyms Top

No known synonyms.

Common names Top

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Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Name Authority First published in
Dianella revoluta var. divaricata (R.Br.) R.J.F.Hend. Fl. Australia 45: 484 (1987)
Dianella revoluta var. revoluta Biologiske meddelelser. Kongelige danske videnskabernes selskab

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Australasia
    • Australia
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
      • South Australia
      • Tasmania
      • Victoria
      • Western Australia

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000765248
Tropicos 18404498
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:533863-1
The Plant List kew-304157
Open Tree Of Life 148593
NCBI Taxonomy 670083
IPNI 533863-1
iNaturalist 210175
GBIF 5305191
Freebase /m/080mpm1
EOL 1087429
USDA GRIN 463758
Wikipedia Dianella_revoluta
CMAUP NPO28074

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Adaptive mechanism in Quercus brantii Lindl. leaves under climatic differentiation: morphological and anatomical traits Soheili F, Heydari M, Woodward S, Naji HR Sci Rep 03-Mar-2023
PMCID:PMC9984455
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-30762-1
PMID:36869142
Effects of Water Availability on Leaf Trichome Density and Plant Growth and Development of Shepherdia ×utahensis Chen JJ, Sun Y, Kopp K, Oki L, Jones SB, Hipps L Front Plant Sci 18-May-2022
PMCID:PMC9158747
doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.855858
PMID:35665162
Metabolomic and Physiological Changes in Fagus sylvatica Seedlings Infected with Phytophthora plurivora and the A1 and A2 Mating Types of P. ×cambivora Corcobado T, Milenković I, Saiz-Fernández I, Kudláček T, Plichta R, Májek T, Bačová A, Ďatková H, Dálya LB, Trifković M, Mureddu D, Račko V, Kardošová M, Ďurkovič J, Rattunde R, Jung T J Fungi (Basel) 14-Mar-2022
PMCID:PMC8949215
doi:10.3390/jof8030298
PMID:35330301
A bee’s eye view of remarkable floral colour patterns in the south-west Australian biodiversity hotspot revealed by false colour photography Lunau K, Scaccabarozzi D, Willing L, Dixon K Ann Bot 03-Jul-2021
PMCID:PMC8577209
doi:10.1093/aob/mcab088
PMID:34216211
Small and surrounded: population size and land use intensity interact to determine reliance on autonomous selfing in a monocarpic plant Spigler RB Ann Bot 15-Jan-2018
PMCID:PMC5838805
doi:10.1093/aob/mcx184
PMID:29346506
Diseases of the Nervous System N/A Veterinary Medicine 10-Feb-2017
PMCID:PMC7322266
doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-5246-0.00014-0
Temporary Storage or Permanent Removal? The Division of Nitrogen between Biotic Assimilation and Denitrification in Stormwater Biofiltration Systems Payne EG, Fletcher TD, Russell DG, Grace MR, Cavagnaro TR, Evrard V, Deletic A, Hatt BE, Cook PL PLoS One 26-Mar-2014
PMCID:PMC3966729
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090890
PMID:24670377
Imbricatonol, a Naphthol Naphthoquinone Dimer Isolated From Stypandra imbricata and Dianella revoluta LT Byrne, SM Colegate, PR Dorling, CR Huxtable CSIRO Publishing 03-Sep-2010
doi:10.1071/CH9871315
Colouring matters of Australian plants. XVI. Minor constituents of Dianella revoluta and Stypandra grandis RG Cooke, JG Down CSIRO Publishing 02-Sep-2010
doi:10.1071/CH9711257
Colouring matters of Australian plants. XII. Quinones from Dianella revoluta and Stypandra grandis RG Cooke, LG Sparrow CSIRO Publishing 02-Sep-2010
doi:10.1071/CH9650218
Effective Long-Distance Pollen Dispersal in Centaurea jacea Albrecht M, Duelli P, Obrist MK, Kleijn D, Schmid B PLoS One 25-Aug-2009
PMCID:PMC2727790
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006751
PMID:19707542
Contemporary biogenic formation of clay pavements by eucalypts: further support for the phytotarium concept Pate JS, Verboom WH Ann Bot 13-Jan-2009
PMCID:PMC2707863
doi:10.1093/aob/mcn247
PMID:19141601
Stypandrone: A toxic naphthalene-14-quinone from Stypandra imbricata and Dianella revoluta Steven M. Colegate, Peter R. Dorling, Clive R. Huxtable Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82330-4
Dianellidin, stypandrol and dianellinone: An oxidation-related series from dianella revoluta Steven M. Colegate, Peter R. Dorling, Clive R. Huxtable Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Benzoic acids
Benzoic Acid 243 Click to see 122.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / p-Hydroxybenzoic acid esters / p-Hydroxybenzoic acid alkyl esters
Atraric Acid 78435 Click to see 196.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9711257
> Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthols and derivatives
(1,8-Dihydroxy-3-methylnaphthalen-2-yl) acetate 163027951 Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=CC=C2)O)C(=C1OC(=O)C)O 232.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9871315
1-[(1S,2R)-7-(7-acetyl-1,8-dihydroxy-6-methylnaphthalen-2-yl)-1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl]ethanone 163022180 Click to see 432.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2
1-[7-(7-Acetyl-1,8-dihydroxy-6-methylnaphthalen-2-yl)-1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl]ethanone 163022179 Click to see 432.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2
Nepodin 100780 Click to see 216.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2
https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9871315
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82330-4
Stypandrol 188516 Click to see 430.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2
> Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthoquinones
(1-Hydroxy-3-methyl-5,8-dioxonaphthalen-2-yl) acetate 162875115 Click to see 246.21 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9871315
[7-(7-Acetyloxy-8-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,4-dioxonaphthalen-2-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-methyl-5,8-dioxonaphthalen-2-yl] acetate 162952418 Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C1OC(=O)C)O)C(=O)C(=CC2=O)C3=CC(=O)C4=C(C3=O)C(=C(C(=C4)C)OC(=O)C)O 490.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9871315
[7-(7-Acetyloxy-8-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,4-dioxonaphthalen-2-yl)-1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylnaphthalen-2-yl] acetate 162898646 Click to see 476.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9871315
1,4-Naphthalenedione, 6-acetyl-5-hydroxy-7-methyl- 3083744 Click to see 230.22 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9871315
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82330-4
7-Acetyl-2-(7-acetyl-8-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,4-dioxo-7,8-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)-8-hydroxy-6-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione 162956436 Click to see 460.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2
7-acetyl-2-[(7R,8S)-7-acetyl-8-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,4-dioxo-7,8-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl]-8-hydroxy-6-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione 163193747 Click to see 460.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2
Dianellinone 3083745 Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C1C(=O)C)O)C(=O)C(=CC2=O)C3=CC(=O)C4=C(C3=O)C(=C(C(=C4)C)C(=O)C)O 458.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9871315
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81595-2
https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9650218
> Benzenoids / Phenanthrenes and derivatives / Triphenylenes
2,8,15-Triacetyl-1,7,16-trihydroxy-3,9,14-trimethyltrinaphthylene-5,6,11,12,17,18-hexone 101967038 Click to see 684.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9711257
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols / Long-chain fatty alcohols
(R)-nonacosan-10-ol 342803 Click to see 424.80 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
(-)-Sandaracopimaric acid 221580 Click to see 302.50 unknown via CMAUP database
(2S,4aR,4bS,7R,10aR)-7-ethenyl-1,1,4a,7-tetramethyl-3,4,4b,5,6,9,10,10a-octahydro-2H-phenanthren-2-ol 22216597 Click to see 288.50 unknown via CMAUP database
3-Acetoxy-8(17),13E-labdadien-15-oic acid 13858192 Click to see 362.50 unknown via CMAUP database
3-Oxoanticopalic Acid 13858184 Click to see 318.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Abietic acid 10569 Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=CCC3C(C2CC1)(CCCC3(C)C(=O)O)C 302.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Alepterolic acid 13858188 Click to see 320.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Dehydroabietic acid 94391 Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3(CCCC(C3CC2)(C)C(=O)O)C 300.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Levopimaric acid 221062 Click to see CC(C)C1=CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)C(=O)O)C 302.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Neoabietic acid 221118 Click to see 302.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Sandaracopimaradienediol 12313649 Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCC(C3(C)CO)O)C)C=C 304.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Sandaracopimarinol 12314286 Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)C=C 288.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids
Linalool, (+)- 67179 Click to see 154.25 unknown via CMAUP database
Myrcene 31253 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids
P-Cymene 7463 Click to see 134.22 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids
(-)-beta-Pinene 440967 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,3R,6R)-3,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane 98052623 Click to see 138.25 unknown via CMAUP database
alpha-Pinene, (+)- 82227 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 1,3,3-trimethyl-, (1S,4R)- 10877186 Click to see 138.25 unknown via CMAUP database
Bornyl acetate, (-)- 93009 Click to see 196.29 unknown via CMAUP database
D-Borneol 6552009 Click to see 154.25 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids
(+)-Limonene 440917 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
(+)-Terpinen-4-ol 2724161 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)(C(C)C)O 154.25 unknown via CMAUP database
4-Methylidene-1-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol 10197791 Click to see CC(C)C1(CCC(=C)CC1)O 154.25 unknown via CMAUP database
d-beta-Phellandrene 442484 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
Terpinolene 11463 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
(R)-beta-bisabolene 68128 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)CCC=C(C)C 204.35 unknown via CMAUP database
Bisabolol 1549992 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(CCC=C(C)C)O 222.37 unknown via CMAUP database
delta-Cadinol 3084311 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C 222.37 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(3S,8R,9R,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 11870456 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C 414.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones
Pinocembrin 68071 Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3 256.25 unknown via CMAUP database
Strobopinin 442520 Click to see 270.28 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
(-)-4'-Hydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavan 14731337 Click to see 270.32 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9711257
4'-Hydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavan 44257174 Click to see CC1=C(C=CC2=C1OC(CC2)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)OC 270.32 unknown https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9711257
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes
3-Methoxy-5-(2-phenylethenyl)phenol 182229 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1)O)C=CC2=CC=CC=C2 226.27 unknown via CMAUP database
3,5-Dimethoxystilbene 5316874 Click to see 240.30 unknown via CMAUP database

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