Parks Victoria Fact File: Grass Tree

Grass Treesp a r k n o t e sAt a Glance...Size:Can grow up to six metres tall.Habitat:Coastal heaths, wet and dry forests.What Is a Grass Tree?Grass Trees are one of Australia’s mostamazing and iconic plants. Growing onlyin Australia there are several differentspecies including four that grow inVictoria.There are many differences betweengrass tree species. Some have a trunkand look a bit like a tree above theground, growing up to six metres tall,whilst others are much lower and growtheir trunks below ground.Species such as Xanthorrhoea australis(Austral Grass Tree) grow a trunk. Thetrunk is composed of a mass of old leafbases held together by natural resinwhich can take ten years before it beginsto form. It is then a further twenty yearsor more before a mass of thin leavesemerge. It’s a very slow growing plant, ata rate of one to two centimetres inheight per year, growing one metreevery 100 years!Other species such as Xanthorhroeaminor (Small Grass Tree) do not grow atrunk above ground. It's fine leaves growfrom the base of the plant at groundlevel. Flowering occurs twice to threetimes each year in mature plants. Theflowering stalks grow rapidly at a rate ofXanthorrhoea australisXanthorrhoea minor2‐3 centimetres per day and reach aheight of around three metres.Amazingly, Grass Trees have a lifespan ofup to 600 years!Grass Trees are also closely related toother sedges such as Lomandra spp.,with which it share many similarities.UsesA wide range of lizards and insectsshelter in the Grass Trees massivefoliage. When in flower, the spear of theplant attracts nectar feeding birds, bees,ants, and butterflies.For Victorian Aborigines including theWotjobaluk, the Wathaurung and theGunai/Kurnai, grass trees are a stapleplant providing food, drink, fibre andmaterials for making implements.Pieces of dry flower stalk can be used formaking fire with a drilling stick, whileleaves collected from the base of thetrunk produce a hard resin which can beFor more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centreon 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

The Junior Ranger WayKnow before you go, respectparks and wildlife and leave notrace along your way, that’s theJunior Ranger Way!www.rangerroo.com.auused for waterproofing bark canoes andwater carrying vessels. The tall flowerspear can also used for huntingpurposes, with the resin used to fix asharp point to the end.ThreatsAlthough protected in National Parks,unfortunately the Grass Tree has been avictim of land clearing. To conserve themthey are sometimes removed before anarea is cleared and replanted elsewhere.Grass Trees are also increasinglythreatened by the root rot diseasePhytophthora cinnamomi.Fortunately they are becomingincreasingly popular in private gardensdue to their ability to survive harshweather conditions and survive withoutwater and regular maintenance.Where Do Grass Trees Grow?Grass Trees grow in coastal heaths, wetand dry forests of Australia. They aredrought and frost tolerant.Some good places to view Grass Trees inVictorian parks include, the BrisbaneRanges, Little Desert and GrampiansNational Parks.Want to Know More?www.parkweb.vic.gov.auwww.anbg.gov.auFascinating Facts:Lifespan of up to 600 years! Grass Trees grow 1‐2centimetres in height eachyear.