Spiny-headed Mat-rush (bushfire recovery)

Description:

The legacy of massive bushfires that roared through this area in February is apparent, and once familiar species of plants are almost unrecognisable, having been burnt to a cinder. It's quite confronting, but the resilience of these plants to regenerate after such an ordeal is astounding, and Lomandra is one of those species that has surprised me. Commonly known as "spiny-headed mat-rush" or "lomandra", Lomandra longifolia belongs to the family Asparagaceae, the same family as the asparagus. It's a perennial, rhizomatous herb found throughout eastern Australia. This is not a grass species. Leaves are glossy green, shiny, firm and flat. They can grow from 40cm up to 1m long and 8-12mm wide, and are usually taller than the flowering stem. The inflorescence is usually a panicle of clusters of sessile flowers, and each cluster has a sharp, slender, straw-colored bract at its base which gives it a dense spike-like structure. Its flowers are scented. 5 species of the Lomandra genus occur in Girraween.... http://www.rymich.com/girraween/index.ph...

Habitat:

Spotted on the southern slopes of Mt. Norman in Girraween National Park. I saw hundreds of burnt plants along various sections of the track. Growing amongst larger native eucalypts and heath species. Sunny aspect and subject to extreme conditions - freezing cold (sometimes snow) in winter, and intense heat in summer. The entire area has just undergone massive bushfires, and drought conditions still prevail. Sandy soil.

Notes:

Indigenous Australians ground the seeds for use in damper, and the long, flat, fibrous leaves were used for weaving. The base of the leaves contains water, and was chewed by those in danger of dehydration. (Wikipedia) Check this guy out. He's a character and shows how to ID mat-rush and its uses.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwf0Fuq...