''Spinifex'' is a genus of perennial coastal plants in the

grass family Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns and ...

. They are one of the most common plants that grow in

sand dunes A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...

along the coasts of Africa, Middle East, Asia,

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 ...

, New Zealand, and

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

, with the ranges of some species extending north and west along the coasts of Asia as far as India and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. As they help stabilise the sand, these grasses are an important part of the entire sand dune ecosystem. The single species indigenous to New Zealand, ''Spinifex sericeus'', is also found in

. Confusingly, the word "spinifex" is also used as a common name referring to grasses in the related genus '' Triodia''. ''Triodia'' however is native to inland

and refers to a group of spiny-leaved,

tussock Tussock may refer to: * Tussock grass, a group of species in the family Poaceae *Floating island * Lymantriinae, called tussock moths or tussocks See also * Hassock (disambiguation) Hassock may refer to: * Kneeler, a cushion or a piece of f ...

-forming grasses.

Species

Species include:The Plant List search for Spinifex
/ref> * ''Spinifex'' × ''alterniflorus'' Nees – Western Australia * ''

Spinifex hirsutus ''Spinifex'' is a genus of perennial coastal plants in the grass family. They are one of the most common plants that grow in sand dunes along the coasts of Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, with the ranges ...

'' Labill. – all 6 states of

* ''

Spinifex littoreus ''Spinifex littoreus'' is a species of herb in the family Poaceae. The species is similar to '' Spinifex longifolius.'' It is native to tropical and subtropical areas of Asia and Australia. The species is dioecious. It has been suggested that ...

'' (Burm.f.) Merr. – Ashmore Reef in Western Australia; New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Indochina, Indian subcontinent,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

( Fujian, Guangdong,

Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...

, Hainan), Taiwan,

including Ryukyu Islands * '' Spinifex longifolius'' R.Br. – Thailand, Indonesia, New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia * '' Spinifex sericeus'' R.Br. – all 6 states of

plus

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...

, New Zealand,

, Tonga

Formerly included

Species formerly included: * ''Spinifex paradoxus'' (now ''

Zygochloa paradoxa ''Zygochloa'' is a genus of desert plants in the grass family known only from Australia. The only known species is ''Zygochloa paradoxa'', commonly known as sandhill canegrass. It occurs in extremely arid areas such as the Simpson Desert T ...

'')

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q138801 Panicoideae Poaceae genera Grasses of Asia Poales of Australia Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus