This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Xanthorrhoea australis
  • Grasstree

a perennial evergreen member of the Xanthorrhoea genus in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Xanthorrhoea australis has 4 edible uses listed
Xanthorrhoea australis has 6 material uses listed
Xanthorrhoea australis has 1 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The pith of the stem is eaten raw or roasted, it has an agreeable nutty taste that is slightly balsamic[1]. It contains about 41% carbohydrate, 3.5% protein and traces of vitamin C[1]. It is possible to extract sugar from the stem[1].

Leaf bases - chewed[2]. They are hard to detach from the plant[2]. They sometimes taste sweet and juicy though more often they are tough and astringent[1]. The flowers produce an abundance of nectar and this can be collected from the flowers, either by sucking the flowers or by cooking them up to produce a syrup[2].

The root might be edible[2].

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Nectar

Root

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

A resin collects around the bases of old leaves and can be collected by beating the stems[3]. It can be used as a varnish for wood or metal[4][5][3] and as an incense[5]. It can also be used as a size, a sealing wax, mahogany stain for wood and medicinally[3]. It makes a good glue[1]. The gum is soft and pliable when heated over a flame but it cools to a rock-hard consistency[1]. The flower stems are good firesticks[1].

Unknown part

Adhesive
Friction sticks
Incense
Resin
Size
Varnish

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The resin has medicinal uses[3]. No details are given.

Unknown part

Miscellany

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in about 5 weeks[6]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer, giving them the protection of a frame or cloche until they are growing away happily. Protect the outdoor plants for at least their first winter. Division of offsets in late spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Xanthorrhoea australis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a well-drained light or medium soil and a very sunny position[7]. Succeeds in poor soils in the wild[4].

This species is not very frost-hardy in this country and normally requires greenhouse protection[8]. It tolerates temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[K], though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. It would certainly be worthwhile trying it outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[K].

Other members of this genus should also have the same edible and non-edible uses[2][1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Xanthorrhoea australis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Xanthorrhoea australis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Xanthorrhoea australis
Genus
Xanthorrhoea
Family
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
[3]
Material uses & Functions
[3][4][5][1]
Botanic
[4][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Leaves (Unknown use)
  • Unknown part (Nectar)
  • Root (Unknown use)
  • Stem (Unknown use)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Adhesive)
  • Unknown part (Friction sticks)
  • Unknown part (Incense)
  • Unknown part (Resin)
  • Unknown part (Size)
  • Unknown part (Varnish)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Miscellany)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9 Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-14383-8 (1989-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana ISBN 0-00-634436-4 (1976-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria. ()
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney ISBN 0-00-216441-8 (1981-00-00)
    6. ? Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) ISBN 0-7322-0021-0 (1988-00-00)
    7. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    8. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    9. ? Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. ISBN 0730104001 (1993-00-00)


    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Xanthorrhoea_australis&oldid=81810"