Lomandra longifolia
Longleaf Mat-Rush
a perennial member of the Lomandra genus in the family Lomandraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Lomandraceae
- Genus
- Lomandra
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Beetles
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Beetles
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Flowers - raw. A flavour of fresh peas. Both sexes are used though the male flowers are easier to harvest[1]. White leaf bases - raw[5]. A flavour of green peas, they are refreshing and enjoyable[1].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves contain a tough fibre and they are used in basket making and in weaving[2][5]. This fibre can also be made into a string[3].
- Product or use
- Basketry
- Product or use
- Fibre
- Product or use
- Weaving
Environment
- Range
- Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
- Habitat
- Banks of creeks, rocky hillsides, cliffs and open forests, in sandy soils in swamps and wet places to the montane zone[2][3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in late winter or early spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Division might also be possible.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It succeeds in most soils and aspects in Australian gardens, also tolerating occasional flooding[4], and it also withstands temperatures down to at least -7°c in that country[4]. However, this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. Other members of this genus are also said to have edible flowers[1][5]. The flowers are rich in a heavy-smelling nectar and this attracts pollinating beetles[5]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.
Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-00-216441-8
Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0
Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8
Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001