This year, after collecting our new kitten, Reggie, I came home to a potted GrassTree or Xanthorrhoea.
(This is specifically xanthorrhoea johnsonii)
It is my favourite of all Australia's flora, so I was overjoyed to have one to call my own.
Like much of the native plant life in Australia, they are long lived. Surprisingly, their trunk only grows about 9mm per year.
It is common enough (in the right location) to see wild 'grasstrees' nearing 2metres tall, meaning they are probably over 200years old, OMG!
I was overjoyed when my xanthorrhoea started to grow a flower spike, and now it blossoms:
This plant was also used by Australia's aboriginal people for food and tools.
Flower seeds were ground into flour, nectar could be used to drink.
Grubs (worms?) were dug from below when centre leaves were dead and honey was harvested from bees which nested within.
The flower spike was made into a spear shaft or drilling stick and resin from the leaves could be used as a glue and for waterproofing (canoes).
Emocionat, Phil que bé poder compartir aquest espai entre motius com aquests. Ets, sóc, som a les antípodes, junts.
ResponEliminaMTB, MTB, MTB.