Jump to content

Xanthorrhoea malacophylla

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Xanthorrhoea malacophylla
Cultivated specimen in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Xanthorrhoeoideae
Genus: Xanthorrhoea
Species:
X. malacophylla
Binomial name
Xanthorrhoea malacophylla

Xanthorrhoea malacophylla is a species of grasstree of the genus Xanthorrhoea. It is endemic to New South Wales, Australia. Mature plants form a single or branched trunk that ranges between 2 and 6 metres in height. The grass-like leaves, which are usually around 3 mm wide, are distinguished from other species by their softness and sponginess.[1] The flowers appear between May and September in scapes that are between 1.3 and 1.8 metres long.[2]

The species was first formally described in 1986 based on plant material collected in 1964 from Queens Lake State Forest near the town of Kew, Australia.[3] It occurs on steep hillsides in coastal ranges between Wyong and Casino.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Xanthorrhoea malacophylla". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  2. ^ D.J.Bedford. "New South Wales Flora Online: Xanthorrhoea malacophylla". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  3. ^ "Xanthorrhoea malacophylla". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 23 December 2011.