Xanthorrhoea malacophylla is a species of grasstree of the genus Xanthorrhoea. It is endemic to New South Wales, Australia. Mature plants form a single or branched trunk that ranges between 2 and 6 metres in height. The grass-like leaves, which are usually around 3 mm wide, are distinguished from other species by their softness and sponginess.[1] The flowers appear between May and September in scapes that are between 1.3 and 1.8 metres long.[2]
| Xanthorrhoea malacophylla | |
|---|---|
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| Cultivated specimen in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily: | Xanthorrhoeoideae |
| Genus: | Xanthorrhoea |
| Species: | X. malacophylla
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| Binomial name | |
| Xanthorrhoea malacophylla | |
The species was first formally described in 1986 based on plant material collected in 1964 from Queens Lake State Forest near the town of Kew, Australia.[3] It occurs on steep hillsides in coastal ranges between Wyong and Casino.
References
edit- ^ "Xanthorrhoea malacophylla". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
- ^ D.J.Bedford. "New South Wales Flora Online: Xanthorrhoea malacophylla". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
- ^ "Xanthorrhoea malacophylla". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
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