grass-tree

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


1) The name applied to treesof the genus Xanthorrhoea, N.O. Liliaceae, of whichthirteen species are known in Australia. See also Richea.

2) In New Zealand Pseudopanax crassifolium, Seemann, N.O. Araleaceae. When young, this is the same as Umbrella-tree, so called from its appearance like theribs of an umbrella. When older, it grows more straight andis called Lancewood (q.v.).

3) In Tasmania, besides two species of Xanthorrhoeathe Grass-tree of the mainland, the Richeadracophylla, R. Br., N.O. Epacrideae, found on MountWellington, near Hobart, is also known by that name, whilstthe Richea pandanifolia, Hook., found in the South-westforests, is called the Giant Grass-tree. Both these arepeculiar to the island.

4) An obsolete name for Cordyline australis, Hook., N.O. Liliaceae, now more usually called Cabbage-tree (q.v.).

1802. D. Collins, `Account of New South Wales,'vol. ii. p. 153:

«A grass tree grows here, similar in every respect to thatabout Port Jackson.»

1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 347:

«Yielding frequently a very weak and sour kind of grass,interspersed with a species of bulrush called grass-trees,which are universal signs of poverty.» :

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' Vol II. c. iii. p. 54:

«The grass-tree is not found westward of the mountains.»

1839. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions,' vol. ii. p. 303:

«We approached a range of barren hills of clay slate, on whichgrew the grass-tree ( Xanthorhoea) and stunted eucalypti.»

1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 74:

«The shimmering sunlight fell and kissed

The grass-tree's golden sheaves.»

1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 132:

«Here and there, in moist places, arises isolated the`grass-tree' or `cabbage-tree' (Ti of the natives; CordylineAustralis).»

1874. Garnet Walch, `Head over Heels,' p. 80:

«The grass-trees in front, blame my eyes,

Seemed like plumes on the top of a hearse.»

1877. F. v. Mueller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 119:

«How strikingly different the external features of plants maybe, though floral structure may draw them into congruity, iswell demonstrated by our so-called grass-trees, which pertaintruly to the liliaceous order. These scientifically definedas Xanthorhoeas from the exudation of yellowish sap, whichindurates into resinous masses, have all the essential notesof the order, so far as structure of flowers and fruits isconcerned, but their palm-like habit, together with cylindricspikes on long and simple stalks, is quite peculiar, andimpresses on landscapes, when these plants in masses areoccuring, a singular feature.»

1879. A. R. Wallace, `Australasia' (ed. 1893), p. 52:

«The grass trees ( Xanthorrhoea) are a peculiar featureto the Australian landscape. From a rugged stem, varying fromtwo to ten or twelve feet in height, springs a tuft of droopingwiry foliage, from the centre of which rises a spike not unlikea huge bulrush. When it flowers in winter, this spike becomescovered with white stars, and a heath covered with grass treesthen has an appearance at once singular and beautiful.»

1882. A. Tolmer, `Reminiscences,' vol, ii. p. 102:

«The root of the grass-tree is pleasant enough to eat, andtastes something like the meat of the almond-tree; but beingunaccustomed to the kind of fare, and probably owing to theempty state of our stomachs, we suffered severely fromdiarrhoea.»

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia,' p. 43:

«Grass-trees are most comical-looking objects. They have ablack bare stem, from one to eight feet high, surmounted by atuft of half rushes and half grass, out of which, again, growsa long thing exactly like a huge bullrush. A lot of themalways grow together, and a little way off they are not unlikethe illustrations of Red-Indian chiefs in Fenimore Cooper'snovels.»

1889. T. Kirk, `Forest Flora of New Zealand,' p. 59:

«It [ Pseudopanax crassifolium, the Horoeka] iscommonly called lance-wood by the settlers in the North Island,and grass-tree by those in the South. This species wasdiscovered during Cook's first voyage, and it need cause nosurprise to learn that the remarkable difference between theyoung and mature states led so able a botanist as Dr. Solanderto consider them distinct plants.»

1896. Baldwin Spencer. `Horne Expedition in CentralAustralia,' Narrative, p. 98:

«As soon as the came upon the Plains we found ourselves in abelt of grass trees belonging to a species not hithertodescribed ( X. Thorntoni). . . . The larger specimenshave a stem some five or six feet high, with a crown of longwiry leaves and a flowering stalk, the top of which is fullytwelve feet above the ground.»

[Compare Blackboy and Maori-head.

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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