X. australis - Austral Grass Tree
Grass trees are familiar sites in the Victorian country side and grow in the poorest of sandy soils.
Slow growing eventually they develop a thick, dark trunk, or butt, which is impregnated with resin as a protection against drought and surmounted by a grass-like head of leaves. The trunk can be surrounded by a skirt of dead leaves which burns off naturally in bush fires or is cleared professionally in nursery specimens.
Flowers are in dense clusters, strongly scented, terminal spikes on woody stems.
X. minor - Small Grass Tree
Native to Victoria and South Australia.
Slow growing perennial, with a subterranean woody trunk requiring well drained soil, once established it will tolerate dry conditions.
Flowers are in dense clusters, strongly scented, terminal spikes on woody stems.
Foliage triangular arching leaves to 1m. forming an attractive dense grassy clump.
****
Both grow only from seed. All species are protected plants.
The aborigines obtained the resin to make adhesive and used the flowering stem for spears and fire sticks.
back to:-
botanical name
common name