Triodia (grass)

''Triodia'' is a large genus of hummock-forming bunchgrass 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, and is used for basket weaving by the women of various Aboriginal Australian peoples.

A multiaccess key (SpiKey) is available as a free application for identifying the ''Triodia'' of the Pilbara (28 species and one hybrid).

Description

''Triodia'' is a perennial Australian tussock grass 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. The seeds were collected and ground to make seedcakes. Spinifex resin was an important adhesive used in spear-making. Smoke signals were made to communicate with families and groups a long distance away, as burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke.

The species ''Triodia wiseana'' 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 and Ngarluma people, the English term is ''hard spinifex''.

Species

Species currently include:

* ''Triodia acutispicula'' Lazarides
* ''Triodia aeria'' Lazarides
* ''Triodia angusta'' (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'' (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'' (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'' C.A.Gardner

Formerly included species

Numerous species once considered members of ''Triodia'' have been reclassified, they are in other genera, which include: '' Austrofestuca, Chascolytrum, Danthonia, Dasyochloa, Deschampsia, Diplachne, Disakisperma, Erioneuron, Gouinia, Graphephorum, Leptocarydion, Notochloe, Plinthanthesis, Poa, Puccinellia, Rytidosperma, Scolochloa, Spartina, Torreyochloa, Trichoneura, Tridens, Triplasis, Tripogon, and Vaseyochloa''.

See also

* Spinifex pigeon
* Carnegie expedition of 1896

References

External links

Macquarie University.edu: "Hummock Grasslands in Australia"

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1607561, from2=Q2699451

Chloridoideae
Bunchgrasses of Australasia
Endemic flora of Australia
Poales of Australia
Poaceae genera
Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)
Australian Aboriginal bushcraft
Bushfood