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Australian Spinifex

Triodia

Also called False Spinifex

Australian Spinifex
Photo: Hesperian, CC BY-SA 3.0

Triodia is a large genus of hummock grasses native to arid Australia, known as spinifex, and the genus covers many species rather than one plant. Growing them depends on full sun, very good drainage, and little water once established.

Family
Poaceae (Grass family)
Grows as
Grass
Light
Full sun
Water
Water sparingly and only during establishment; drought tolerant once rooted.
Soil
Sandy or gritty, very well-drained soil; poor soil is fine.
Temperature
Tolerates hot, dry conditions typical of arid Australia; frost sensitivity varies by species.
How easy
Hard

About

Triodia is a large genus of hummock grass endemic to Australia. The species of this genus are known by the common name spinifex, although they are not a part of the coastal genus Spinifex. Many soft-leaved Triodia species were formerly included in the genus Plectrachne. Triodia is known as tjanpi (grass) in central Australia, and have several traditional uses amongst the Aboriginal Australian peoples of the region.

A multiaccess key (SpiKey) is available as a free application for identifying the Triodia of the Pilbara (28 species and one hybrid).

Uses

Spinifex has had many traditional uses for Aboriginal Australians. Several species were (and are) used extensively as materials for basket weaving. The seeds were collected and ground to make seedcakes. Spinifex resin was an important adhesive used in spear-making. Burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke, and smoke signals made in this way were an effective means of communication with families and groups over substantial distances.

Other Triodia plants

Gummy Spinifex

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Triodia (plant) by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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