Triodia (plant genus)

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Triodia

Triodia pungens (green) and Triodia basedowii (blue-grey)

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Triodia R. Br.

Species

See text

This article is about the grass species of arid Australia. For True Spinifex, or coastal Spinifex, see Spinifex (genus).

Triodia is a large genus of tussock-forming grass (Bunch grass) endemic to Australia; they are commonly known as spinifex, although they are not a part of the coastal genus Spinifex.

Triodia is a perennial Australian grass which grows in arid regions and has awl-shaped, pointed leaves.

Spinifex has traditionally had many uses for Australian Aborigines. The seeds were collected and ground to make seedcakes. Spinifex resin was an important adhesive used in spear-making. Smoke signals were made to communicate with families and groups a long distance away, as burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke.

The species Trioda wiseana is used for building shelters; bunched together it is for trapping fish against creek beds. It is called Baru in the languages of the Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people, the English term is Hard Spinifex.^[1]

[edit] References

^ Burndud (1990). Wanggalili; Yinjibarndi and Ngarluma Plants. Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation, 17.

Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 1992 onwards. The grass genera of the world: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval; including synonyms, morphology, anatomy, physiology, phytochemistry, cytology, classification, pathogens, world and local distribution, and references. Version: 28th November 2005