Spinifex is the common name of a spiky inland grass. It occurs in low rainfall areas and often has a circular growth form likened to fairy rings. The genus name is Triodia. Among the many species are irritans and tormentosa which give you an idea of how much fun it is to walk through. Grasswrens and Emuwrens like it a lot, hunkered down among the spikes they are fairly safe from predators.
Just to confuse us there is an entirely different genus of grasses called Spinifex. These are coastal plants found in Australia,New Zealand, New Caledonia and Tonga. One of them, Spinifex sericeous, is common around Broome.
It’s a valuable pioneer which helps stabilise dunes by means of its long stolons. The flower heads are quite striking. At maturity the female flower heads break off and go tumbling. One of its popular names is Spring Rolling Grass but it is more often known simply as Coast Spinifex. The female flower heads are about 20cm across.
With the sun low behind them they are very attractive …
bobmcgee 