''Triodia'' is a large genus of hummock-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 ...

, 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 basket ...

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 I ...

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 g ...

(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 widel ...

Australian tussock grass that grows in arid regions. Its leaves (30–40 centimetres long) are

subulate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...

( 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 ...

. 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 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 ''Triodia basedowii'', commonly known as lobed spinifex, is a species of tussock-forming grass-like plant found in Australia. It occurs on sandy plains and small hills and dunes of bare red sand. Green to purple flowers are displayed from long ...

'' E.Pritz. – buck spinifex * '' Triodia biflora'' Lazarides * '' Triodia bitextura'' Lazarides * ''

Triodia brizoides 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 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 ''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'' (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, Chascolytrum,

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 heathgrass ...

, 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, Disakisperma, Erioneuron, Gouinia,

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,

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 = L ...

, Plinthanthesis, Poa, Puccinellia, Rytidosperma, Scolochloa, Spartina, Torreyochloa, Trichoneura, Tridens, Triplasis,

Tripogon ''Tripogon'' is a genus of tropical and subtropical plants in the grass family. They are widespread across Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprisin ...

, and Vaseyochloa''.

References

External links