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Introduction
Dianella nigra is commonly known as the turutu in Maori, New Zealand blueberry, or ink berry. D. nigra is a plant of the family Asphodelaceae and a species of flowering plant (angiosperm). It is classified as monocot species that contains only a single embryonic leaf or cotyledon.

Description
Dianella nigra is an evergreen perennial herb meaning it lives for many years; It can be found throughout New Zealand. D. nigra can grow about 40 cm tall and about 50 cm wide and it is a hardy tufted plant resembling a small fine leafed flax. D. nigra is characterized as short rhizomes, the leaves are bicoloured, parallel, longer, and wider. They can be up to 1.8 cm wide and in fact, they are commonly found no greater than 1.5 cm wide, having a prominent dark marginal band, being upright to strongly curved and often drooping as the spread from the base of the plant. Leaf sheaths commonly flushed green to light yellow-green and by the oblong struma. The characteristics of their flowers are 3 petals (frequently blue), 3 sepals, and have yellow stamens. The flowers are small and have a white to greenish colour. Once D. nigra flower they are quick to produce fruits. Fruits are brightly coloured blue to purple berries. Despite the name New Zealand blueberries, this plant is not edible and identify as one of the poisonous native plants for which it should not be eaten by man.

Distribution
Dianella nigra is a New Zealand native plant and it can be found on North Island and South Island. In North Island, they occur in both North and South of Auckland, and the Three Kings Island. Meanwhile, in South Island, they exist in Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, and Otago. They can be either cultivated plants or grown wild in forests and it is effectively when used as a mass planting. D. nigra occurs in a variety of habitats, but its natural habitat is in open forests and in coastal areas. Somehow, ideal for dry areas under existing vegetation cover with an open canopy, light gapes, and natural opening, regenerate and secondary vegetation, pakihi and bracken. They are also grown on roadside banks, track margins and are tolerant to form of soil condition in humid areas and be frost tolerant.

Life Cycle
Dianella nigra is an evergreen perennial herb, flowering plant, and monocot species. Their life cycle is very interesting. They flower in November to December with two types of colours green and white. From December to May, they produce shiny blue to purple berries. The brightly coloured berries are dispersed by frugivory meaning they are dispersed by an animal that thrives mostly on row fruits include seeds; and seeds can fall off at the slightest touch. The seed is ready for harvest when the berries have turned blue and the flesh is soft; The plant can easily be grown from the division of plants and seeds and yet D. nigra reproduces by seeds. In the case of germination D. nigra seeds are hard and the germination time does not need much treatment. However, they seem vulnerable and easy to get damping off once it starts to sprout.

Interaction
Dianella nigra grow in a range of environments and has the ability to a range of soil habitats include wetland to poor soil. This species is attractive to bees and native birds and provides a food source for birds.

Further information
There are several species in the Dianella genus that can be found in other parts of the world, many are in Australia. Over the last past few years, there were observations and collections of different forms of Dianella from all over New Zealand. It is found out that New Zealand has had three species of Dianella include Dianella nigra, Dianella latissimi and Dianella haematica. The variation occurs mostly in North Island. The two new species Dianella haematica and D. latissima are considered to be separated from D. nigra. The difference will be growth habitat, leaf feature, and flower feature.

In terms of floral characters, D. nigra, D. haematica, and D. latissimi flowers are really similar. However, there are differences exist in D. nigra and D. latissimi where the form seems longer and their perianth strongly recurved. Meanwhile, D. haematica the style is shorter and the perianth is slightly recurved at anthesis. There is also a difference in cultivation, D. nigra and D. latissimi tend to open their flower early morning while D. haematica opens its flower slightly later in the morning.

Leaf of these three species is different in size and colour. Dianella nigra have long, strappy leaves up to 1.8 meters long, uniformly green to dark green with a distinct marginal band, upright to strongly curved and distinctly drooping from the base of the planet. D. haematica is characterised by leaves 2-5cm wide, having olive-green to dull dark green and distinctly upright. D. latissima is distinguished by its wide leaves which are up to 3.5cm and its leaves are wider compare to both D. nigra and D. haematica. The leaves' colour uniformly is green to light green leave.

These three Dianella species are identified as having similar berries and seeds in shape and colour and do not have diagnostic character.