Grass TreesXanthorrhoea media Xanthorrhoea thorntonii

The Grass Trees (Xanthorrea spp.) are an iconic emblem of our Australian bush. Grass Trees are endemic to Australia and can be found growing naturally in all states and territories, found in heaths, dry forests and on mountain ranges. There are over 30 species.

Grass Trees (Xanthorrea spp.), Mt Kaputar National Park
Grass Trees (Xanthorrea spp.), Mt Kaputar National Park, NSW
Grass Trees (Xanthorrea spp.), Mt Kaputar National Park
Grass Trees (Xanthorrea spp.), Mt Kaputar National Park, NSW
Grass Tree (Xanthorrea spp.) in Mount Kaputar National Park, NSW

‘Xanthorrhoea’ means ‘yellow flow’ in ancient Greek and refers to its resin. The resin was much prized by Aboriginal people, being used as a glue or as a coating / waterproofing material. The early settlers also found it extremely useful, as a glue, a varnish, polish and a coating of tin materials. It was used in the sizing of paper, in soap and perfumery and even in the manufacture of early gramophone records.

Grass trees on Mount Yulludunida
Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (Grass Tree) on Mount Yulludinida Track,NSW

Flower spikes which can grow to 2-3 metres are magnificent; the multiple small flowers, full of nectar, are mobbed by insects and birds.

Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii)
Desert Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea Thorntonii), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Clade: Monocots
  • Order: Asparagales
  • Family: Asphodelaceae
  • Subfamily: Xanthorrhoeoideae
  • Genus: Xanthorrhoea

Grass TreesXanthorrhoea media Xanthorrhoea thorntonii

Grass and GrassesBirdwood Buffel (Cenchrus setiger) Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) Fairy Grass (Sporobolus caroli) Finger Grass (Chloris barbata) Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) Silkyheads (Cymbopogon obtectus) Wanderrie Grass (Eriachne sp)

FloraFlora in Australia Flora Index Acacia Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paws) Annual Yellowtop Apium prostratum subsp. prostratum var filiforme Apple Bush (Pterocaulon sphacelatum) Australian Bluebell Australian Gossypium Banksia Batswing Coral Tree Billy Buttons Birdsville Indigo Blue Pincushion Bush Banana Callistemon Callitris drummondii (Drummond’s Cypress Pine) Calothamnus quadrifidus Cape Honeysuckle Cassia fistula (Golden Shower) Cattle Bush Common Heath Crotalaria Darwinia wittwerorum (Wittwer’s Mountain Bell) Daviesia oppositifolia (Rattle-pea) Desert Oaks Drumsticks Eremophila Eucalyptus Ficus Flannel Cudweed (Actinobole uliginosum) Georges Indigo Goatshead Burr (Sclerolaena bicornis) Golden Everlasting Goodenia Gossypium Grass and Grasses Grass Trees Grevillea Grey Germander Hakea Kapok Bush (Aerva javanica) Lambertia sp Leptospermum MacDonnell Ranges Cycad Maireana scleroptera Mexican Poppy Minnie Daisy Mistletoe Family Nardoo Native Apricot Nicotiana megalosiphon subspecies sessilifolia Nuytsia floribunda Orange Spade Flower Orchidaceae Parakeelyas (Calandrinia) Pebble Bush (Stylobasium spathulatum) Perennial Yellow Top Pink Everlasting Pink Rock Wort Poached Egg Daisy Portulaca Proteaceae Ptilotus Quandong Resurrection Fern Rosy Dock Ruby Saltbush Santalum Solanum Spike Centaury Spinifex Storkbill (Erodum cygnorum) Striped Mint Bush Sturt’s Desert Pea Sturt’s Desert Rose Tall Saltbush Tangled Leschenaultia Tar Vine Tribulus eichlerianus Upside-down Plant Urodon dasyphylla Variable Daisy Waratah (Telopea) Wertabona Daisy White Cedar (Melia azedarach) White Indigo White Paper Daisy Wild Passionfruit Wild Stock Woolly-Headed Burr Daisy Woolly Bush Yellow-keeled Swainsona