Triodia (plant)

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.[1] Many of the soft-leaved members of this species were formerly included in the genus Plectrachne.[3]

This article is about the genus of grasses. For the genus of moths, see Triodia (moth).
This article is about the grass genus of arid Australia. For true spinifex, or coastal spinifex, see Spinifex (plant).

Triodia
Triodia pungens (green) and Triodia basedowii (blue-grey)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Tribe: Cynodonteae
Subtribe: Triodiinae
Genus: Triodia
R.Br., 1810
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Plectrachne Henrard

It is known as tjanpi in central Australia,[4][5] and is used for basket weaving by the women of various Aboriginal Australian peoples.[6]

A multiaccess key (SpiKey) is available as a free app for the Triodias of the Pilbara (28 species and one hybrid).[7]

Description

Triodia is a perennial Australian tussock grass which 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 baru in the languages of the Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people, the English term is hard spinifex.[8]

A controlled burn of Triodia (1989), CSIRO

Species

Species currently include:[9][10]

  • 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.[2]

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See also

References
  1. M. Lazarides (1997). "A revision of Triodia including Plectrachne (Poaceae, Eragrostideae, Triodiinae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 10 (3): 381–489. doi:10.1071/SB96012.
  2. "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". kew.org. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  3. Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 1992 onwards. The grass genera of the world: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval; including synonyms, morphology, anatomy, physiology, phytochemistry, cytology, classification, pathogens, world and local distribution, and references. Version: 28 November 2005
  4. "Special spinifex". Bush Heritage Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  5. "Fact Sheet: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park" (PDF). Parks Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "Our Artists". Tjanpi Desert Weavers. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  7. M.D. Barrett, B.M. Anderson, K.R.Thiele (2017-06-05). "SPIKEY: An interactive key to Triodia spinifex grasses of the Pilbara, Western Australia Version". Welcome to Identic. Retrieved 2020-05-02.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Burndud (1990). Wanggalili; Yinjibarndi and Ngarluma Plants. Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation. p. 17.
  9. "Triodia". The Plant List. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  10. Australia, Atlas of Living. "Triodia". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
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