Triodia (plant)

Triodia (plant)
Triodia is a large genus of hummock grass endemic to Australia. The species of this genus are known by the common name spinifex, although they are not a part of the coastal genus Spinifex. Many soft-leaved Triodia species were formerly included in the genus Plectrachne. Triodia is known as tjanpi (grass) in central Australia, and have several traditional uses amongst the Aboriginal Australian peoples of the region.
A multiaccess key (SpiKey) is available as a free application for identifying the Triodia of the Pilbara (28 species and one hybrid).
Description
Triodia species are perennial Australian hummock grasses that grow in arid regions. Their leaves (30–40 centimetres long) are subulate (awl-shaped, with a tapering point). The leaf tips, which are high in silica, can break off in the skin, leading to infections.
Uses
Spinifex has had many traditional uses for Aboriginal Australians. Several species were (and are) used extensively as materials for basket weaving. The seeds were collected and ground to make seedcakes. Spinifex resin was an important adhesive used in spear-making. Burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke, and smoke signals made in this way were an effective means of communication with families and groups over substantial distances.
The species Triodia wiseana is used for building shelters; bunched together it is used for trapping fish against creek beds. It is called in the languages of the Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people, the English term is hard spinifex.
Triodia nanofibres have been used to reinforce rubber and latex products. As of 2023, a Brisbane-based company has raised funds to develop medical gels from spinifex resin.
Species
Species currently include:
Triodia acutispicula Lazarides
Triodia aeria Lazarides
Triodia angusta (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia aristiglumis (Lazarides) Lazarides
Triodia aurita Lazarides
Triodia barbata R.L.Barrett & M.D.Barrett
Triodia basedowii E.Pritz. – buck spinifex
Triodia biflora Lazarides
Triodia bitextura Lazarides
Triodia brizoides (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia bromoides (F.Muell.) Lazarides
Triodia bunglensis (S.W.L.Jacobs) Lazarides
Triodia bunicola (S.W.L.Jacobs) Lazarides – southern porcupine grass
Triodia burbidgeana S.W.L.Jacobs
Triodia bynoei (C.E.Hubb.) Lazarides
Triodia caelestialis G.Armstr.
Triodia claytonii Lazarides
Triodia compacta (Burbidge, N.T) S.W.L.Jacobs
Triodia concinna (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia contorta (Lazarides) Lazarides
Triodia cremmophila R.L.Barrett & M.D.Barrett
Triodia cunninghamii Benth.
Triodia danthonioides (F.Muell.) Lazarides
Triodia desertorum (C.E.Hubb.) Lazarides
Triodia dielsii (C.E.Hubb.) Lazarides
Triodia epactia S.W.L.Jacobs
Triodia fissura Barrett, Wells & Dixon
Triodia fitzgeraldii C.A.Gardner ex N.T.Burb.
Triodia helmsii (C.E.Hubb.) Lazarides
Triodia hubbardii (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia inaequiloba (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia integra Lazarides
Triodia intermedia Cheel – winged spinifex
Triodia inutilis (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia irritans (Brown, R) – porcupine grass
Triodia lanata J.M.Black
Triodia lanigera Domin
Triodia latzii Lazarides
Triodia longiceps J.M.Black
Triodia longiloba Lazarides
Triodia longipalea Lazarides
Triodia marginata (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia melvillei (C.E.Hubb.) Lazarides
Triodia microstachya (Brown, R)
Triodia mitchellii Benth. – buck spinifex
Triodia molesta (Burbidge, N.T) – porcupine grass
Triodia pascoeana B.K.Simon
Triodia plectrachnoides (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia plurinervata (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia procera (Brown, R)
Triodia prona Lazarides
Triodia pungens (Brown, R) – gummy spinifex
Triodia racemigera C.A.Gardner
Triodia radonensis S.W.L.Jacobs
Triodia rigidissima (Pilg.) Lazarides
Triodia roscida (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia salina Lazarides
Triodia scariosa (Burbidge, N.T) – porcupine grass
Triodia schinzii (Henrard) Lazarides
Triodia scintillans & M.D.Barrett 2017
Triodia secunda (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia spicata (Burbidge, N.T)
Triodia stenostachya Domin
Triodia stipoides
Triodia tomentosa S.W.L.Jacobs
Triodia triaristata Lazarides
Triodia triticoides C.A.Gardner
Triodia uniaristata (Lazarides) Lazarides
Triodia vella Lazarides
Triodia wiseana C.A.Gardner
Formerly included species
Numerous species once considered members of Triodia have been reassigned to other genera, including: Austrofestuca, Chascolytrum, Danthonia, Dasyochloa, Deschampsia, Diplachne, Disakisperma, Erioneuron, Gouinia, Graphephorum, Leptocarydion, Notochloe, Plinthanthesis, Poa, Puccinellia, Rytidosperma, Scolochloa, Spartina, Torreyochloa, Trichoneura, Tridens, Triplasis, Tripogon, and Vaseyochloa.
See also
Spinifex pigeon
Carnegie expedition of 1896
References
External links
Macquarie University.edu: "Hummock Grasslands in Australia"
Chloridoideae
Bunchgrasses of Australasia
Endemic flora of Australia
Poales of Australia
Poaceae genera
Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)
Australian Aboriginal bushcraft
Bushfood
Triodia