Author: |
Alma Theodora Lee,
1966 |
Family: |
XANTHORRHOEACEAE* |
Origin: |
Queensland,
New South Wales; Australia |
Soil: |
Grit
- Mix |
Water:
|
Medium |
Sun: |
Maximum |
Thickness: |
25
Centimetres |
Height: |
4
Meters |
Flower:
|
Yellowish |
Propagate: |
Seeds* |
Names:
|
Grass
Tree, Northern Grasstree, Blackboy |
Synonyms: |
- |
This member of the
Xanthorrhoeaceae family was described by Alma Theodora Lee in 1966. It is
found in Queensland and New South Wales, growing in sand or other
well drained soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The stem
will grow up to 25 centimetres or more, and in 4-600 years reach
four meters. The flowers are yellowish, and the plant can only be
reproduced by seeds.
The genera name from the Greek
xanthos; 'yellow' and rheo; 'to flow', referring to
the yellow gum that can be extracted. The species name after
Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson, 1925-1997, an Australian
taxonomic botanist.
* 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.
|