| Lomandra longifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Laxmanniaceae |
| Genus: | Lomandra |
| Species: | L. longifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Lomandra longifolia Labill. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Xerotes longifolia (Labill.) R.Br. |
|
Lomandra longifolia, commonly known as Spiny-head Mat-rush, Spiky-headed Mat-rush[1] or Basket Grass is a perennial, rhizomatous herb found throughout eastern Australia. The leaves are 40 cm to 80 cm in long, and generally have a leaf of about 8mm to 12mm wide [2]. It grows in a variety of soil types and is frost, heat and drought tolerant.[3] Labillardiere described Lomandra longifolia from a specimen collected in Tasmania.[4]
This strappy leaf plant is often used on roadside plantings in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and the USA, due to its high level of drought tolerance. The breeding of more compact finer leaf forms has made Lomandra longifolia popular as an ever green grass like plant in home plantings. Tanika, Lomandra longifolia 'LM300' also known as Breeze Grass in the USA, was the first fine leaf type. It still has the finest leaf of any Lomandra longifolia, with a width of 3mm.[5] In temperatures down to Minus 7 degrees Celsius these plants stay evergreen, and this variety has been recorded to live in the USA at a number of sites including Alabama, at minus 10 degrees Celsius. They need pruning every 3 to 4 years. The best way to prune them is to cut the back half way into a ball shape. After pruning they look very architectural.[6]
Indigenous Australians ground the seeds for use in damper, and the long, flat, fibrous leaves were used for weaving. The base of the leaves contains water, and was chewed by those in danger of dehydration.[1]