Practical
Plants

Xanthorrhoea australis

Grasstree

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
1 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The pith of the stem is eaten raw or roasted, it has an agreeable nutty taste that is slightly balsamic[7]. It contains about 41% carbohydrate, 3.5% protein and traces of vitamin C[7]. It is possible to extract sugar from the stem[7]. 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[7]. 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].

Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Nectar
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The resin has medicinal uses[6]. No details are given.

Product or use
Miscellany

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A resin collects around the bases of old leaves and can be collected by beating the stems[6]. It can be used as a varnish for wood or metal[3][4][6] and as an incense[4]. It can also be used as a size, a sealing wax, mahogany stain for wood and medicinally[6]. It makes a good glue[7]. The gum is soft and pliable when heated over a flame but it cools to a rock-hard consistency[7]. The flower stems are good firesticks[7].

Product or use
Adhesive
Product or use
Friction sticks
Product or use
Incense
Product or use
Resin
Product or use
Size
Product or use
Varnish

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Poor sandy or heathy soils up to the montane zone[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in about 5 weeks[5]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained light or medium soil and a very sunny position[8]. Succeeds in poor soils in the wild[3]. This species is not very frost-hardy in this country and normally requires greenhouse protection[1]. 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][7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  3. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-00-216441-8

    ↩1↩2

  5. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩

  6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  9. Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001

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