''Xanthorrhoea glauca'', known as the grass tree, is a large plant in the genus '' Xanthorrhoea'', widespread in eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The trunk can grow in excess of 5 metres tall, and may have many branches. It is occasionally seen in large communities in nutrient rich soils. The leaves are a grey or bluish

glaucous ''Glaucous'' (, ) is used to describe the pale grey or bluish-green appearance of the surfaces of some plants, as well as in the names of birds, such as the glaucous gull (''Larus hyperboreus''), glaucous-winged gull (''Larus glaucescens''), g ...

green. Two sub-species are recognised; subspecies ''angustifolia'' and ''glauca''. File:Xanthorrhoea Mt Cabrebald 4.jpg, File:Xanthorrhoea Mt Cabrebald 3.jpg, File:Xanthorrhoea Mt Cabrebald 2.jpg, File:Xanthorrhoea Mt Cabrebald 5.jpg,

Aboriginal (Ngunnawal) uses

The flower spike soaked in water makes a sweet drink. The growing part of the leaf stem and the white leaf bases can be eaten. The dried flower stems form a base for fire drills when making a fire. The resin from the base of the leaves is a glue used when making weapons and axes.

References

Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland glauca {{Asphodelaceae-stub