Lomandra longifolia
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|taxon = Lomandra longifolia
|image = Lomandra longifolia.jpg
|authority = Labill.{{Citation |contribution=Lomandra longifolia|title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=293202 |accessdate=2012-05-24}}
|synonyms = Xerotes longifolia (Labill.) R.Br.
|}}
Lomandra longifolia, commonly known as spiny-head mat-rush,Society for Growing Australian Plants Maroondah Inc Flora of Melbourne 1991 Edition page 281 spiky-headed mat-rush,{{cite web| url=http://media.smh.com.au/life-and-style/essentials/hungry-try-some-bush-tucker-2457561.html|title=Video: Hungry? Try some bush tucker.| date=2011-06-28| publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2011-06-28}} the chudweed or basket grass, is a perennial, rhizomatous herb found throughout eastern Australia. The leaves are 40 cm to 80 cm long, and generally have a leaf of about 8 mm to 12 mm wide.Alan Fairley and Philip Moore Native plants of the Sydney district, page 368. Kangaroo Press, 1989. It grows in a variety of soil types and is frost, heat and drought tolerant.W.Rodger Elliot and David L. Jones Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants, Volume 6, page 224. A Lothian Book, 1993. Labillardiere described Lomandra longifolia from a specimen collected in Tasmania.{{APNI | name =Lomandra longifolia | id = 38702 }}
Distribution
L. longifolia is native to the east of Australia, common to all states and territories except Northern Territory and Western Australia.{{Cite web |last=Australian National Botanic Gardens |first=Parks Australia |title=Lomandra longifolia - Growing Native Plants |url=https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2007/lomandra-longifolia.html |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=www.anbg.gov.au |language=en}}
Cultivation
This strappy leaf plant is often used in landscaping in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States, due to its high level of drought tolerance. The breeding of more compact finer leaf forms has made Lomandra longifolia popular as an evergreen grass-like plant in home plantings. Tanika, Lomandra longifolia 'LM300', also known as breeze grass in the US, was the first fine leaf type. It still has the finest leaf of any Lomandra longifolia, with a width of 3 mm.Plant Breeders Rights Plant Varieties Journal, Volume 15 Issue 3, 2003. In temperatures down to −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 −10 degrees Celsius.
L. longifolia is closely related to L. hystrix, the main differences being that the leaf of L. hystrix has teeth on each side of the longer main end point, whereas that of L. longifolia has side teeth equal if not longer than the central one (a W shape).{{cite web |title=Lomandra hystrix (LOMANDRACEAE) Green matrush |url=http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=194 |accessdate=2015-01-27}}
Uses
Many parts of the plant are edible. The seeds on their own are tough, however may be ground and turned into flour, with which Indigenous Australians may use to make damper. The long, flat, fibrous leaves are used for weaving dilly bags, fishing nets, mats, baskets, and other goods.{{Citation |title=Native Nibbles |date=2017-05-13 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/native-nibbles/9440302 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |language=en-AU |access-date=2022-06-16}} The flowers are edible and taste of peas. The base of the leaves contains water, and was chewed by those in danger of dehydration. They taste of peas or celery.{{Cite web |title=Lomandra longifolia Longleaf Mat-Rush PFAF Plant Database |url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lomandra+longifolia |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=pfaf.org}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- [http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2007/lomandra-longifolia.html Lomandra longifolia], Growing Native Plants, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
{{Commons category}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q6669134}}
Category:Asparagales of Australia
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Flora of the Australian Capital Territory
Category:Flora of Victoria (state)