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Lomandra longifolia Labill.
- Common Name: Long Mat-rush, Spiny headed Mat-Rush
- Family: Asparagaceae Juss.
- Country of Origin: eastern coastal Australia
- Habitat: range of habitats including rainforest, often in or near water
- Description: A tufted, perennial grass-like plant forming rounded tussocks to 1m tall. Leaves are blue-green to yellow-green, narrow, up to 1m long and less than 1 cm wide, and are prominently toothed at apex.
Small cream to brown flowers are borne in a gongested, much-branched inflorescence, which is carried on a flattened, tough stem to 80cm tall. The inflorescence contains numerous, prominent bracts to 3cm long. The hard, ovoid fruit, about 0.5cm long, is brown and shiny.
- Uses: The long smooth leaves were used to make baskets and mats. By beating and soaking the leaves, fibre was separated to make string for net-bags. The flowers provided nectar.
- Culture: common in sandy soils, often near watercourses. Found in a wide range of areas from tropical to cool. Frost tolerant to around -7C.
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  Accession Data:- Accession # 200000016
- Source: David Spence - Seed, Qld, AUS
- Accession Date: 02-21-2000
- Bench: 2312 - NZ/Australia - Low
- Qty: 2 confirmed on 02-01-2012
Classification:- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Liliopsida
- SubClass: monocots
- Order: Asparagales
- SubOrder:
- Family: Asparagaceae
- SubFamily: Lomandroideae
- Tribe:
- SubTribe:
References:The Aboriginal Trail at ANBG.
page generated on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:16:25 -0500
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