''Triodia'' is a large genus of hummock grass endemic to Australia. The species of this genus are known by the common name spinifex, although they are not a part of the coastal genus '' Spinifex''. Many soft-leaved ''Triodia'' species were formerly included in the genus ''Plectrachne''. ''Triodia'' is known as ''tjanpi'' (grass) 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 have several traditional uses amongst the

Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Australians are the various indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, excluding the ethnically distinct people of the Torres Strait Islands. Humans first migrated to Australia 50,000 to 65,000 year ...

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

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, sparsely populated regions of Western Australia, region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people; wealth disparity; its ancient landscapes; the prevailing r ...

(28 species and one hybrid).

Description

''Triodia'' species are

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

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

Uses

Spinifex has had many traditional uses for

Aboriginal Australians Aboriginal Australians are the various indigenous peoples of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland and many of its islands, excluding the ethnically distinct people of the Torres Strait Islands. Humans first migrated to Australia (co ...

. Several species were (and are) used extensively as materials 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 ...

. 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. Burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke, and

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 made in this way were an effective means of communication with families and groups over substantial distances. 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''. CSIRO ScienceImage 1325 Grass Fire

''Triodia'' nanofibres have been used to reinforce rubber and latex products. As of 2023, a Brisbane-based company has raised funds to develop medical gels from spinifex resin.

Species

Species currently include:
* '' Triodia acutispicula'' Lazarides * '' Triodia aeria'' Lazarides * '' Triodia angusta'' (Burbidge, N.T) * ''

Triodia aristiglumis 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) Lazarides * ''

Triodia aurita 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 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'' R.Br. – 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'' R.Br. * '' 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'' R.Br. * '' 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 ...

'' R.Br. – 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 scintillans'' & M.D.Barrett 2017 * '' Triodia secunda'' (Burbidge, N.T) * '' Triodia spicata'' (Burbidge, N.T) * '' Triodia stenostachya'' Domin * '' Triodia stipoides'' * '' 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 reassigned to other

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

, including: '' 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 heathgras ...

, Dasyochloa, Deschampsia, Diplachne, Disakisperma, Erioneuron, Gouinia, Graphephorum, Leptocarydion,

Notochloe ''Notochloe'' is a genus of Australian plants in the grass family. The only known species is ''Notochloe microdon'', found only in New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state ...

, Plinthanthesis,

Poa ''Poa'' is a genus of about 570 species of Poaceae, grasses, native to the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Common names include meadow-grass (mainly in Europe and Asia), bluegrass (mainly in North America), tussock (some New Zealand spe ...

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

, Rytidosperma, Scolochloa,

Spartina ''Spartina'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, frequently found in coastal salt marshes. Species in this genus are commonly known as cordgrass or cord-grass, and are native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Eu ...

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

References

External links