Lomandra longifolia
Plant Number: 3Common Name: Mat Rush, Spiny-head Mat Rush, Basket Grass
Scientific Name: Lomandra longifolia
Derivation of name
Lomandra – from Loma- (Greek) meaning edge, border and aner, man, male, because of the bordered anthers of some species.
longifolia – from longi- (Latin) meaning long and -folia (Latin) meaning leaf.
Description
A perennial (i.e. lives for more than 1 year) herb that features rhizomes (i.e. horizontal underground stems)
Linear, long, glossy leaves to one metre, tip of leaf prominently toothed
Perfumed straw-coloured flowers to 5mm on flattened spikes
Green seed capsules turning dark brown when mature
Drought and temperature tolerant plant
Human uses
Indigenous Australians split the leaves and softened them by passing them through hot ashes before being woven into baskets and dilly bags. The white base of the leaves was also chewed.
Acknowledgment: Mangroves to Mountains, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Mutaroo
Photo Credit: Eric Hunt