Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Lomandroideae
Genus: Lomandra
Species: L. longifolia
Binomial name: Lomandra longifolia
Synonyms: Xerotes longifolia
Common names: Spiny headed mat rush, spiky-headed mat-rush, Mat-rush, Basket grass, Honey reed, Longleaf Mat-Rush
Lomandra longifolia is a large, perennial, rhizomatous tussock found throughout eastern Australia. The leaves are glossy green, shiny, firm, flat and are 40 cm to 1m long, and generally have a leaf of about 8-12 mm wide. The leaves are usually taller than the flowering stem. The leaf tips are strangely notched to form two uneven points and this is a characteristic of all types of Lomandra. Leaf bases are broad with yellow, orange or brownish margins and the tips of the leaves are prominently toothed.
During spring and summer, small clusters of cream to yellow bracts on flower spikes develop. The individual flowers are about 4mm long and are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant). The flowers have heavily scented nectar that attracts pollinating beetles and bees.
Lomandra longifolia grows in a variety of soil types and is frost, heat and drought tolerant. In New Zealand, it is used in roadside plantings and in public gardens due to its high level of drought tolerance.
There is an evergreen, compact, soft to touch fine leaf form Tanika® Lomandra longifolia ‘LM300’ which is now widely planted.
The flower spikes
Lomandra longifolia flowers
The leaf
The leaf tips that are notched to form two uneven points.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
