I frequently go for a wander along the fire trails in the heath reserve west of the lake and the flora and fauna on display never disappoint me. The standout plants for me are the iconic Grass Trees (the craggy old banksias run a close second). Grass Trees are one of the most striking plants you’ll see around Lennox Head. They are slow growing but very long-lived; some are 600 years old and their filamentous leaves are a colourful mix of blue-green, grey-green, dark green and a lower apron of dead dry-brown leaves hanging lifeless from the gnarly black trunk.
Botanically, Grass Trees are more grass-like rather than tree-like - monocots as apposed to dicots, remember your high school biology? They thrive in well-drained, low-nutrient soil and some grow with craggy black trunks while others remain ground dwellers. Their impressive flower spikes tower over the surrounding heath offering perfect perches for Rainbow Bee-eaters and, when flowering, their dainty clusters cling along the spike attracting nectar-feeding birds and insects. Grass Trees are hardy plants too; tolerating frost, fire and drought and look exquisite grouped together or standing singularly.
There are twenty-eight Grass Tree species in Australia and at least three species grow around Lennox Head, X. johnsonii, X. fulva and X. macronema.
X. johnsonii are the most common Grass Tree around Lennox Head. They are slow to grow but have impressive trunks when older. They grow in the well-drained sandy soils and prefer full sun or part shade. Flowering is prolific after fire and can also occur between April and December.
X. fulva does not grow a trunk, the leaves are diamond shaped in cross section but larger than X. johnsonii and they grow in damp or water logged soils. They produce flower spikes infrequently between August and October - more frequently after fire.
X. macronema also grows without a trunk. They like part shade, well-drained soil and the flower spikes are relatively short with bottlebrush-type flowers, hence its common name, Bottlebrush Grass Tree.
Aboriginal people had many uses for Grass Trees. They soaked the flower spikes in water to make a sweet drink. The soft white leaf bases and roots were eaten; resin from the flower spike was used as a glue in tool making and the stems of the flower spikes were made into spears. Stems were also used to make a base for fire-drills.
Grass trees are protected so please don’t take them from the bush, they’ll probably die anyway as their roots are extremely sensitive. They can be purchased at specialist nurseries and they don't require a lot of water or care so they’re perfect for low maintenance gardens, particularly on sandy soils in the village.
Written by S Web, August 2020
Botanically, Grass Trees are more grass-like rather than tree-like - monocots as apposed to dicots, remember your high school biology? They thrive in well-drained, low-nutrient soil and some grow with craggy black trunks while others remain ground dwellers. Their impressive flower spikes tower over the surrounding heath offering perfect perches for Rainbow Bee-eaters and, when flowering, their dainty clusters cling along the spike attracting nectar-feeding birds and insects. Grass Trees are hardy plants too; tolerating frost, fire and drought and look exquisite grouped together or standing singularly.
There are twenty-eight Grass Tree species in Australia and at least three species grow around Lennox Head, X. johnsonii, X. fulva and X. macronema.
X. johnsonii are the most common Grass Tree around Lennox Head. They are slow to grow but have impressive trunks when older. They grow in the well-drained sandy soils and prefer full sun or part shade. Flowering is prolific after fire and can also occur between April and December.
X. fulva does not grow a trunk, the leaves are diamond shaped in cross section but larger than X. johnsonii and they grow in damp or water logged soils. They produce flower spikes infrequently between August and October - more frequently after fire.
X. macronema also grows without a trunk. They like part shade, well-drained soil and the flower spikes are relatively short with bottlebrush-type flowers, hence its common name, Bottlebrush Grass Tree.
Aboriginal people had many uses for Grass Trees. They soaked the flower spikes in water to make a sweet drink. The soft white leaf bases and roots were eaten; resin from the flower spike was used as a glue in tool making and the stems of the flower spikes were made into spears. Stems were also used to make a base for fire-drills.
Grass trees are protected so please don’t take them from the bush, they’ll probably die anyway as their roots are extremely sensitive. They can be purchased at specialist nurseries and they don't require a lot of water or care so they’re perfect for low maintenance gardens, particularly on sandy soils in the village.
Written by S Web, August 2020