Balga/grass trees, Xanthorrhoea australis, one of the most and beautiful and iconic Australian natives. They are hardy and ancient plants. To me they always appear to grow as a big colony, they also radiate a presence that needs to be experienced, rather than explained.
These incredible plants are only found in Australia. They are extremely slow growing, so the tall ones seen in these photos can by as old as 350 to 450 years old. These unique plants have the ability to survive fires, some even stimulating into flowering after being burnt. The flowers are quite something to see, when they begin to flower, I will do another post highlighting the stunning spear like flowers. The long-dried skirts indicate how long it has been since the last fire, these showing their long skirts mean that there has not been a fire through here in quite some time.
Some species have an above ground trunk, others though do not have a trunk above ground. Underground they are equally amazing; they have microbes called mycorrhiza which surrounds the roots to assist in bringing nutrients to the plant. This is important as they thrive in nutrient poor soils.
Noongar uses of the plant range from eating it to using it as tools. The leaves were eaten and have a nutty sweet flavour. The soft heart of the plant was consumed, the top of the plant was chopped off to attain the fleshing white pulp within. The pulp was used as medicine for upset stomachs. The nectar was also collected by the original peoples. The plant also produces a resin which was used to fasten sears and stone axes. The tougher leaves utilised as knifes to cut with.
I love to walk though bushland with an abundance of balga trees, thankfully I have many places where I can do this. Sometimes I find that I stop, soaking up the ambience which emanates from these extraordinary plants...
