Lomandra Multiflora

''Lomandra multiflora'' is a perennial, rhizomatous herb found in Australia. ''Lomandra multiflora'' is also commonly known as many-flowered mat rush, mat rush and many flowered mat-lily. ''Lomandra multiflora'' is a species that is native to Australia and can be found in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory of Australia and also in Papua New Guinea. The mat rush is distributed widely in the region and common within its preferred growing conditions. The conservation status of ''Lomandra multiflora'' is considered not to be of concern and risk.

There are two subspecies of ''Lomandra multiflora'', known as ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura'' and ''subspecies multiflora''. ''Lomandra multiflora'' is a small grass-like plant with long flat yellowish green leaves that are typically 30–50 cm long. A distinct feature about ''Lomandra multiflora'' is that they are a diecious plant. The flower of the plant is a creamy yellow colour. The male flowers are smaller than the female flowers and grow on a branched stem, unlike the female flowers.

''Lomandra multiflora'' grows chiefly in woodland and open forest on a variety of soils. The plant is fire-retardant and can withstand a range of climates, making it ideal to grown in gardens. ''Lomandra multiflora'' is historically used for basket making and other forms of weaving. The plant is a food for native Australian butterflies, caterpillars, and moths. The seed of the plant is also a source of food for birds, skinks, and lizards.

Description

''Lomandra multiflora'', commonly known as many-flowered mat-rush, mat rush or many-flowered mat-lily is a tufted perennial, rhizomatous herb native to Australia. ''Lomandra multiflora'' is part of the ''Lomandra'' genus with around 50 species, all of which are native to Australia and generally share common characteristics. There are two subspecies, ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura'', also known as stiff iron grass, and ''subspecies multiflora''.

''Lomandra multiflora'' is a small grass-like tussocky plant with long flat rigid yellowish green leaves that are typically 30 to 50 cm long but can grow from a range of 25cm to 90 cm long. The flat smooth leaves grow vertically and are rounded at the apex, often slightly concave or convex, around 2.5 to 4 cm wide. The margins of the leaf are brown, dry and membranous in texture which is slightly rough to the touch.

The subspecies ''multiflora'' has stiff narrow leaves that grow 25-90cm long, while subspecies dura has strap like leaves about 40cm tall. ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura'' also differs from subspecies ''multiflora'' in the flowers being more hidden in the hard bracts of the plant.

They are a diecious plant, meaning the male and female flowers are carried on separate plants, which is a distinct feature of the plant. During spring, the flowers show a creamy yellow colour which are arranged in clusters around the base of the leaves. The flowers have 6 petals, the inner petals are usually yellow and the outer petals reddish brown. The flowers grow in dense clusters on branch or unbranched spikes often 25cm-75cm with spiky white bracts. The male stalked and bell-shaped flowers are smaller than the female stalkless flowers. The male flowers grow on a branched stem whereas the female occur on unbranched.

''Lomandra multiflora’s'' staminate inflorescence, which is the closely grouped arrangement of the male flowers, is around 50–60 cm tall with whorled branches between 2 and 5.5 cm. The flowers are a greenish yellow colour with 6 tepals, the 3 outer tepal are around 1 mm long and 0.7–0.8 mm wide, the 3 inner tepals are approximately 0.8 mm long and 0.5 mm wide and thicker than the outer tepals. The pistillate inflorescence, which is the female flower, is unbranched and around 28–30 cm long. The clusters of flowers in whorls of up to 6 is measured to be up to 7.5mm long. The 3 outer tepals are around 3.1mm long and 2.9mm wide, the inner 3 tepals are 2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.

The fruit of ''Lomandra multiflora'' is a loculicidal capsule. At maturity, the capsule generally contains a single seed that is asymmetrical, around 6-6.5mm long, 3.3-4mm across and 5mm deep. When the seed is dry, it is a grayish brown colour with distant transverse wrinkles.

''Lomandra multiflora'' share very similar features with other species in the ''Lomandra'' genus, including '' Lomandra patens'' and ''Lomandra ramosissima.'' They are all robust plants forming tussocks with rounded to obtuse leaves without teeth and male flowers that from clusters that branch in whorls. However, ''Lomandra Ramosissima'' can be differentiated from ''Lomandra multiflora'' by the more branched female inflorescence and much shorter male flowers.

Taxonomy

Taxonomic history

The name for ''Lomandra multiflora'' was formally published in Britten, J. in Banks, J. & Solander, D.C (1905), Illustrations of Australian plants collected in 1770 during Captain Cooks voyage round the world 3. The obsolete or synonym name for ''Lomandra multiflora'' is ''Xerotes mutliflora'' and ''Xerotes multiflora'' var. ''typicum'' Domin, which was published in Brown, R. (1810), '' Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characters plantarum quas annis'' 1802-1805. The scientific name was then reallocated to Lomandra multiflora (R.Br.) Britten by taxonomy builder.

Modern classification

The binomial classification of the plant is ''Lomandra multiflora''. There are two subspecies, ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura'' and ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies multiflora''. The common names of ''Lomandra multiflora'' include many-flowered mat-rush, mat rush or many-flowered mat-lily. The common name for ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura'' is stiff iron-grass. ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies multiflora'' is also commonly known as many-flowered mat-rush and many-flowered mat-lily.

Etymology

The genus name ''Lomandra'' is derived from the Greek words ''loma'' meaning edge or margin and ''andros'' meaning male, which is a reference to a circular margin on the anthers, which is the male part of the plant. The specific name ''multiflora'' comes from the Latin word ''multi'' meaning many, and ''flora'' meaning flower which refers to the flowering nature of the plant.

Distribution and habitat

''Lomandra multiflora'' is found in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory of Australia and also in Papua New Guinea. ''Lomandra multiflora'' has two subspecies: ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies multiflora'' and ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura''. Subspecies ''multiflora'' can be found naturally in Southern Papua New Guinea, Western Melbourne, and the North Eastern tip of Northern Territory. Subspecies ''dura'' can only be found in Southern Australia, specifically in the Southern Flinders, Mt. Lofty Ranges, Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas.

''Lomandra multiflora'' grows chiefly in woodland and open forest on a variety of soils, widespread in mainly the drier areas of the regions. The mat-rush grows on the substrates: clay soils on shale, basalt, metamorphics and occasionally on sandstone, low to medium nutrients and well drained.

Ecology

''Lomandra multiflora’s'' optimal conditions for cultivation includes well drained soils grown in a range of climates, full sun, or semi-shade. The mat-rush is a fire-retardant plant as well as facultative and obligate resprouters, meaning it relies on resprouting to regenerate after fire.

Propagation of ''Lomandra multiflora'' can be easily done through the seed or also by division of clumps. Seeds take around 8–10 weeks to germinate without pre-treatment.

The seed dispersal of ''Lomandra multiflora'' can be done through ant adapted elaisome.

The seed of the plant is a source of food for seed-eating birds, skinks, and lizards.

''Lomandra multiflora'' is a food for native Australian butterflies, including '' Trapezites eliena'' and '' Trapezites petalia'', caterpillars, and moths. ''Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura'' is a caterpillar food plant; the seeds are also a food source for lizards. The plant attracts native bees.

The mat-rush is suspected of poisoning sheep.

Uses

Historically, indigenous people used the long leaves of ''Lomandra multiflora'' for basket making and other forms of weaving, as well as the plant’s nectar as a food.

''Lomandra multiflora'' is a fire-retardant plant, meaning it does not catch on fire easily and resprouts from the base if burnt. It can also be used for stabilising banks. The plant can be useful and ideal as a foreground plant in a bush garden, cottage gardens and rockeries as it can withstand a range of different conditions, from frost to drought and brief swampy periods.

Propagation and cultivation

''Lomandra multiflora'' are easily propagated through stem tip cuttings. The fruit of the plant is a capsule that turns golden brown when ripe. The ripeness of the seed can be determined when it becomes firm and hard. To collect the seeds, cut the stem and place in a large paper bag in a warm place. The capsule or fruit, will open and release the seed. Alternatively, ''Lomandra multiflora'' can also be propagated by dividing existing clumps, known as root ball division.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15522537

multiflora
Asparagales of Australia
Flora of New South Wales
Flora of the Northern Territory
Flora of Queensland
Flora of South Australia
Flora of Victoria (Australia)