|
 |
 |
|
|
Xanthorrhoea australis
(Asphodelaceae) 4b:419 |
|
|
Xanthorrhoea
australis (southern grasstree) is native to Tasmania,
is very slow growing and can be extremely long lived.
Leaf blades are glaucous (blue/green), 1.5-3mm wide, 1.2-2mm
thick, are very long and needle like. In young plants
leaves grow in a tuft and are erect. After many years
(can be in the hundreds) a trunk is developed.
The trunk can be branched and grows from 0-3m in
height. Leaves in older plants form a large spreading
crown on top of the trunk. As the older leaves mature
and die they hang down skirting the trunk.
Flower spikes are held erect on a scape 15-80cm in length,
1.8 to ~4cm in diameter. The spear like spike of
flowers can be 1 to ~2.5m long and 5-9cm in diameter.
The spike of flowers can be 2-6 times the length of the
scape and several spikes can be produced during a
flowering. Individual flowers are very small and
white/cream in colour. The bracts around the flowers
are very prominent. Both the bracts around and between
the flowers are narrow and taper to a point. Plants
take several years to flower and flower in spring (July to
December) but do not flower every year. Flower spikes
develop and grow extremely fast. Flowering is
considerably increased after fire. Individual
capsules contain a few black, flat, oval shaped seeds.
Grows in sandy soils in coastal or near coastal environs, in
the North West, North East, the East Coast and the Furneaux
Group.
|
|
|
University of Tasmania
