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Xanthorrhoea glauca

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Author:  David John Bedford, 1986
Family:  XANTHORRHOEACEAE*
Origin:  New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria; Australia
Soil:  Grit - Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium - Maximum
Thickness:  25 Centimetres
Height:  2-5 Meters
Flower:  Crème Coloured
Propagate:  Seeds*
Names:  Black Boy, Black Gin (=Black Woman)
Synonyms:  Xanthorrhoea glauca subsp. angustifolia, D.J.Bedford 1986.

This member of the Xanthorrhoeaceae family was descried by David John Bedford in 1986. It is mainly found in New South Wales, but can also be seen in Queensland. It grow in a well drained soil with some water when in growth and some to lots of sun. As for the other Xanthorrhoeas, the stem grow only around one centimetre a year, but can reach a height of two to five meters, and a diameter of 25 centimetres. The flowers are crème coloured.

The genera name from the Greek xanthos; 'yellow' and rheo; 'to flow', referring to the yellow gum that can be extracted. The species name means 'bloom has thin powder'.

* In the wild, the seeds will germinate after a bushfire. It is not the heat, but the smoke which triggers them. More exact: The butenolide - 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-C]pyran-2-one - in smoke induces germination.
This effect can be made by either smoking the seeds or soak them in water with smoked paper which can be bought or simply smoke some paper or cloth your self.

*)Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Xanthorrhoeaceae is now part of the Asphodelaceae.


Two and a half meter means around 250 years old!