Scientific Name: Xanthorrhoea Species
Common Name: Wallum Grass Tree
Moreton Bay Tribes: Tuckabin (Watkins, 1891)
Turrbal Name: Dakkabin (Petrie, 1904)
Kabi Kabi Name: Dhak’ka or Ok’ka (Watson, 1944)
Indigenous Use
Nectar from the flower extracted by soaking it in water to produce a thick drink. The softwood from the flower spike used in firemaking. Whitish section of the leaf bases nibbled and eaten raw or cooked. Edible grubs found at the base of the truck. The seeds were crushed to make flour. Resin obtained from the lower trunk, softened in the heat of the fire, mixed with charcoal, beeswax or fine sand and dust, and used as a glue. This glue was used to waterproof bags, fix axe heads to handles and spear points to shafts.
When to Use
The flowering and seeds occurs late Winter to Spring. The leaves and resin were available all year round.
Identification
Leaves: The leaves of Xanthorrhoea species are long, narrow, and linear, measuring 30–140 cm in length and 2–5 mm in width. They grow in dense, tufted clusters from the crown and are typically grey-green or blue-green in colour. The leaves are tough, wiry, and slightly curved or straight, with smooth margins (Bostock & Holland, 2010).
Bark: The trunk of Xanthorrhoea species is typically rough, dark brown to black, and often covered in a thick layer of old leaf bases. The trunks can vary in height from subterranean or absent in younger plants to several metres tall in mature specimens. Trunks grow very slowly, at a rate of 1–2 cm per year, and are fire-resistant, often blackened due to exposure to bushfires (Floyd, 1989).
Flowers: The flowers of Xanthorrhoea are small, white to creamy, and arranged densely along tall, cylindrical spikes known as scapes. These spikes can reach lengths of 1–3 metres and emerge prominently from the crown. Flowering is often triggered by fire or other stress events and occurs from late winter to spring. The flowers are fragrant and attract pollinators such as bees, birds, and insects (Harden, 2000).
Fruit: The fruit is a small, woody capsule that splits open when mature, typically measuring 5–10 mm in length. Inside, the capsule contains dark brown to black seeds, which are flattened and roughly 5–8 mm long. The seeds are adapted for wind dispersal and germinate readily under the right conditions (Bostock & Holland, 2010).
Ecosystems
Found in the below ecosystem/s.
Eucalyptus Forests: Eucalyptus forests are characterised by their dominant eucalyptus tree species, thriving in a variety of soil types and pH levels, usually ranging from 4.5 to 7. These forests support a diverse understory of shrubs, grasses, and ground covers, and are adapted to periodic fires which help in seed germination and pest control. Common plants found in eucalyptus forests include wattles, grevilleas, and native grasses. These ecosystems are prominent in areas such as Toohey Forest, the Glass House Mountains, and D’Aguilar National Park.
References
Bostock, P.D. & Holland, A.E. (2010) Census of the Queensland Flora 2010. Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Resource Management. Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au (Accessed: 15 November 2024).
Floyd, A.G. (1989) Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia. Sydney: Inkata Press.
Harden, G.J. (2000) Flora of New South Wales, Volume 1. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.
Isaacs, J. (2019). Bush food : Aboriginal food and herbal medicine. Australia: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd.
Leiper, Glen, Muteroo: Plant use by Australian Aboriginal People. Eagleby South State School, Brisbane
Petrie, Constance, Tom Petrie’s Reminiscences of Early Queensland. Angus and Robertson, 1975, (facsmile of 1904 edition)
Leiper, G., Glazebrook, J., Cox, D., & Rathie, K., 2008. Mountain to Mangroves: A Field Guide to the Native Plants of South-east Queensland. Logan River Branch, Society for Growing Australian Plants.