Triodia (plant)


Triodia is a large genus of hummock grass endemic to Australia. The species of this genus are known by the common name spinifex, although they are not a part of the coastal genus Spinifex. Many soft-leaved Triodia species were formerly included in the genus Plectrachne. Triodia is known as tjanpi in central Australia, and have several traditional uses amongst the Aboriginal Australian peoples of the region.
A multiaccess key is available as a free application for identifying the Triodia of the Pilbara.

Description

Triodia species are perennial Australian hummock grasses that grow in arid regions. Their leaves are subulate. The leaf tips, which are high in silica, can break off in the skin, leading to infections.

Uses

Spinifex has had many traditional uses for Aboriginal Australians. Several species were used extensively as materials for basket weaving. The seeds were collected and ground to make seedcakes. Spinifex resin was an important adhesive used in spear-making. Burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke, and smoke signals made in this way were an effective means of communication with families and groups over substantial distances.
The species Triodia wiseana is used for building shelters; bunched together it is used for trapping fish against creek beds. It is called baru in the languages of the Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people; the English term is hard spinifex.
File:CSIRO ScienceImage 1325 Grass Fire.jpg|thumb|right|A controlled burn of Triodia, CSIRO Triodia nanofibres have been used to reinforce rubber and latex products. As of 2023, a Brisbane-based company has raised funds to develop medical gels from spinifex resin.

Species

Species currently include:

  • Triodia acutispicula Lazarides
  • Triodia aeria Lazarides
  • Triodia angusta
  • Triodia aristiglumis Lazarides
  • Triodia aurita Lazarides
  • Triodia barbata R.L.Barrett & M.D.Barrett
  • Triodia basedowii E.Pritz. – buck spinifex
  • Triodia biflora Lazarides
  • Triodia bitextura Lazarides
  • Triodia brizoides
  • Triodia bromoides Lazarides
  • Triodia bunglensis Lazarides
  • Triodia bunicola Lazarides – southern porcupine grass
  • Triodia burbidgeana S.W.L.Jacobs
  • Triodia bynoei Lazarides
  • Triodia caelestialis G.Armstr.
  • Triodia claytonii Lazarides
  • Triodia compacta S.W.L.Jacobs
  • Triodia concinna
  • Triodia contorta Lazarides
  • Triodia cremmophila R.L.Barrett & M.D.Barrett
  • Triodia cunninghamii Benth.
  • Triodia danthonioides Lazarides
  • Triodia desertorum Lazarides
  • Triodia dielsii Lazarides
  • Triodia epactia S.W.L.Jacobs
  • Triodia fissura Barrett, Wells & Dixon
  • Triodia fitzgeraldii C.A.Gardner ex N.T.Burb.
  • Triodia helmsii Lazarides
  • Triodia hubbardii
  • Triodia inaequiloba
  • Triodia integra Lazarides
  • Triodia intermedia Cheel – winged spinifex
  • Triodia inutilis
  • Triodia irritans R.Br. – porcupine grass
  • Triodia lanata J.M.Black
  • Triodia lanigera Domin
  • Triodia latzii Lazarides
  • Triodia longiceps J.M.Black
  • Triodia longiloba Lazarides
  • Triodia longipalea Lazarides
  • Triodia marginata
  • Triodia melvillei Lazarides
  • Triodia microstachya R.Br.
  • Triodia mitchellii Benth. – buck spinifex
  • Triodia molesta – porcupine grass
  • Triodia pascoeana B.K.Simon
  • Triodia plectrachnoides
  • Triodia plurinervata
  • Triodia procera R.Br.
  • Triodia prona Lazarides
  • Triodia pungens R.Br. – gummy spinifex
  • Triodia racemigera C.A.Gardner
  • Triodia radonensis S.W.L.Jacobs
  • Triodia rigidissima Lazarides
  • Triodia roscida
  • Triodia salina Lazarides
  • Triodia scariosa – porcupine grass
  • Triodia schinzii Lazarides
  • Triodia scintillans & M.D.Barrett 2017
  • Triodia secunda
  • Triodia spicata
  • Triodia stenostachya Domin
  • Triodia stipoides
  • Triodia tomentosa S.W.L.Jacobs
  • Triodia triaristata Lazarides
  • Triodia triticoides C.A.Gardner
  • Triodia uniaristata Lazarides
  • Triodia vella Lazarides
  • Triodia wiseana C.A.Gardner

    Formerly included species

Numerous species once considered members of Triodia have been reassigned to other genera, including: Chascolytrum, Danthonia, Dasyochloa, Deschampsia, Diplachne, Disakisperma, Erioneuron, Gouinia, Graphephorum, Leptocarydion, Notochloe, Plinthanthesis, Poa, Puccinellia, Rytidosperma, Scolochloa, Spartina, Torreyochloa, Trichoneura, Tridens, Triplasis, Tripogon, and Vaseyochloa.