''Triodia'' is a large genus of

hummock In geology, a hummock is a small knoll or mound above ground.Bates, Robert L. and Julia A. Jackson, ed. (1984). “hummock.” Dictionary of Geological Terms, 3rd Ed. New York: Anchor Books. p. 241. They are typically less than in height and ...

-forming

bunchgrass Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial ...

endemic to Australia. They are known by the common name spinifex, although they are not a part of the coastal genus '' Spinifex''. Many of the soft-leaved members of this species were formerly included in the genus ''Plectrachne''. It is known as ''tjanpi'' in

central Australia Central Australia, also sometimes referred to as the Red Centre, is an inexactly defined region associated with the geographic centre of Australia. In its narrowest sense it describes a region that is limited to the town of Alice Springs and i ...

, and is used for

basket weaving Basket weaving (also basketry or basket making) is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as baskets, mats, mesh bags or even furniture. Craftspeople and artists specialized in making baskets ...

by the women of various

Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Australians are the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt, but excluding the Torres Strait Islands ...

peoples. A multiaccess key (SpiKey) is available as a free application for identifying the ''Triodia'' of the

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a glo ...

(28 species and one hybrid).

Description

''Triodia'' is a

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

Australian

tussock grass Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial ...

that grows in arid regions. Its leaves (30–40 centimetres long) are subulate ( awl-shaped, with a tapering point). The leaf tips, that are high in silica, can break off in the skin, leading to infections.

Uses

Spinifex has traditionally had many uses for

Aboriginal Australians Aboriginal Australians are the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt, but excluding the Torres Strait Islands ...

. The seeds were collected and ground to make

seedcakes Bush bread, or seedcakes, refers to the bread made by Aboriginal Australians by crushing seeds into a dough that is then baked. The bread is high in protein and carbohydrate, and forms part of a balanced traditional diet. It is also sometimes ...

Spinifex resin Spinifex resin is a gum coating of some species of spinifex grasses. This sticky resin was traditionally used as an adhesive in tool making by Aboriginal Australians. Many species of spinifex are extremely resinous, to the extent that resin may ...

was an important adhesive used in spear-making.

Smoke signal The smoke signal is one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication. It is a form of visual communication used over a long distance. In general smoke signals are used to transmit news, signal danger, or to gather people to a common area ...

s were made to communicate with families and groups a long distance away, as burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke. The species ''

Triodia wiseana Triodia may refer to: * ''Triodia'' (moth), a genus of moths of the family Hepialidae * ''Triodia'' (plant), a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae {{Genus disambiguation ...

'' 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 The Yindjibarndi are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. They form the majority of Aboriginal people around Roebourne (the Millstream area). Their traditional lands lie around the Fortescue River. Langua ...

and

Ngarluma The Ngarluma are an Indigenous Australian people of the western Pilbara area of northwest Australia. They are coastal dwellers of the area around Roebourne and Karratha. Not including Millstream. Language The Ngarluma language belongs to the ...

people, the English term is ''hard spinifex''. CSIRO ScienceImage 1325 Grass Fire

Species

Species currently include:
* ''

Triodia acutispicula Triodia may refer to: * ''Triodia'' (moth), a genus of moths of the family Hepialidae * ''Triodia'' (plant), a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae {{Genus disambiguation ...

'' Lazarides * ''

Triodia aeria Triodia may refer to: * ''Triodia'' (moth), a genus of moths of the family Hepialidae * ''Triodia'' (plant), a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae {{Genus disambiguation ...

'' Lazarides * ''

Triodia angusta Triodia may refer to: * ''Triodia'' (moth), a genus of moths of the family Hepialidae * ''Triodia'' (plant), a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae {{Genus disambiguation ...

'' (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 ''Triodia irritans'' is a species of plant that forms low and dense mounds of tough grassy vegetation. It is found on sandplains in arid regions of southern and central Australia. The species was first described by Robert Brown in 1810. A comm ...

'' (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 ''Triodia pungens'', commonly known as soft spinifex, is a species of grass native to northwestern Australia. The plant is currently being researched due to its resinous properties as a Termite timber coating. Other research and applications are ...

'' (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 ''Triodia scariosa'', is more commonly known as porcupine grass or spinifex (not to be confused with '' Spinifex spp.''), and belongs to the endemic Australian grass genus'' Triodia.'' The species is perennial and evergreen and individuals grow ...

'' (Burbidge, N.T) – porcupine grass * '' Triodia schinzii'' (Henrard) Lazarides * '' Triodia secunda'' (Burbidge, N.T) * '' Triodia spicata'' (Burbidge, N.T) * '' Triodia stenostachya'' Domin * '' Triodia tomentosa'' S.W.L.Jacobs * '' Triodia triaristata'' Lazarides * '' Triodia triticoides'' C.A.Gardner * '' Triodia uniaristata'' (Lazarides) Lazarides * '' Triodia vella'' Lazarides * ''

Triodia wiseana Triodia may refer to: * ''Triodia'' (moth), a genus of moths of the family Hepialidae * ''Triodia'' (plant), a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae {{Genus disambiguation ...

'' C.A.Gardner

Formerly included species

Numerous species once considered members of ''Triodia'' have been reclassified, they are in other

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

, which include: ''

Austrofestuca ''Austrofestuca'', called beach fescue, is a genus of Australian and New Zealand plants in the grass family. The only accepted species is ''Austrofestuca littoralis'', native to seacoast regions in Australia (all states except Queensland) and Ne ...

Chascolytrum ''Chascolytrum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native to Latin America from Mexico to Chile (including the Juan Fernández Islands).Essi, L., T. T. Souza-Chies & H. M. Longhi-Wagner. 2011. Novon 21:327-329 ; Species * '' Chascolytru ...

Danthonia ''Danthonia'' is a genus of Eurasian, North African, and American plants in the grass family. Members of this genus are sometimes referred to as oatgrass, but that common name is not restricted to this genus. Other common names include heathgra ...

, Dasyochloa,

Deschampsia ''Deschampsia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries.

Diplachne ''Diplachne'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, widespread over much of the world.Disakisperma ''Disakisperma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native to North and South America, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. ; Species * '' Disakisperma dubium'' (Kunth) P.M.Peterson & N.Snow - Mexico, Honduras, South America (Bolivia, Brazi ...

, Erioneuron,

Gouinia ''Gouinia'' is a genus of Latin American plants in the grass family.Catasus Guerra, L. 1997. Las gramíneas (Poaceae) de Cuba, I. Fontqueria 46: –ii 1–259. ; Species * '' Gouinia barbata'' (Hack.) Swallen - Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande ...

Graphephorum ''Graphephorum'' is a genus of North American plants in the grass family. ; Species * ''Graphephorum melicoides'' (Michx.) Desv. - Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Michigan, ...

Leptocarydion ''Leptocarydion'' is a genus of African and Arabic plants in the grass family.Peterson, P. M., K. Romaschenko & Y. Herrera Arrieta. 2014. A molecular phylogeny and classification of the Cteniinae, Farragininae, Gouiniinae, Gymnopogoninae, Perotid ...

Notochloe ''Notochloe'' is a genus of Australian plants in the grass family. ;Species The only known species is ''Notochloe microdon'', found only in New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = ...

, Plinthanthesis, Poa,

Puccinellia ''Puccinellia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, known as alkali grass or salt grass. These grasses grow in wet environments, often in saline or alkaline conditions. They are native to temperate to Arctic regions of the Northern and S ...

Rytidosperma ''Rytidosperma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. Most of the species occur in Australasia, with a few in insular Southeast Asia, southern South America (Chile + Argentina), and certain islands of the Pacific (Hawaii + Easter Island).

Scolochloa ''Scolochloa'' is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae / Gramineae, now containing a single species, ''Scolochloa festucacea''. Common rivergrass is a common name for the species. ''Scolochloa festucacea'' grows in Europe, temperate Asia, an ...

Spartina ''Spartina'' is a taxon of plants in the grass family, frequently found in coastal salt marshes. Its species are commonly known as cordgrass or cord-grass, and are native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Europe, nort ...

Torreyochloa ''Torreyochloa'' is a genus of North American and northeast Asian plants in the grass family. False mannagrass is a common name for plants in this genus. ; Species * '' Torreyochloa erecta'' (Hitchc.) Church - western United States ( CA NV OR) ...

, Trichoneura, Tridens, Triplasis, Tripogon, and Vaseyochloa''.

References

External links