Xanthorrhoea preissii

Endl.

Grass tree

XanthorrhoeaceaeLeavesFlowers

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(c) Margaret-ann Kerr, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Margaret-ann Kerr

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(c) QuestaGame, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by QuestaGame

What to Eat

Edible parts: Base leaves, Flower spike

The species had a high economic importance to the Noongar people, who named it balga, utilising the gum it contains, the spike for fish spears, and the bardi grub as a source of food. Anecdotal information on the species refers to an association with fire in the culture of those people.

Where to Find It

It is a subtropical plant. It will grow on a range of soils. It grows in coastal lowlands. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.

Asia, Australia*, Indonesia, SE Asia,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A plant which can be 5 m high. The trunk is often crooked and formed from old leaf bases. It has one or more clumps of long, slender, brittle leaves. These are diamond shaped in cross section. The flower spike can be 3 m long. It has thousands of small white flowers. It flowers after fire.

How to Grow

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Xanthorrhoea preissii, known as balga, is a widespread species of perennial monocot in Southwest Australia.

Production

Fire will stimulate flowering.

Names & Synonyms

Balga, Balka, Black boy, Common blackboy, Pohon rumput

References (10)

Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 124
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1490
Daw, B., Walley, T. & Keighery, G., 2001, Bush Tucker. Plants of the South-West. Department of Conservation and Land Management. Western Australia. p 58
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 310
Morley, B.D., & Toelken, H.R., (Eds), 1983, Flowering Plants in Australia. Rigby. p 330
Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 130
J. G. C. Lehmann, Pl. Preiss. 2:39. 1846
Plants and People in Mooro Country. Nyungar Plant use in Yellagonga Regional Park
Rolsh, 1994, Wildflowers of the Western State, Rolsh Productions Albany WA. p 6
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 733