Apsley Gorge
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Photos taken on 29th March 2003 of the walk from Tabletop Hut to the Cocks Comb and return
DCP_2555/6/7.JPG 10:53
Grass Trees
These seem to grow on the most inhospitable slopes.
Rowleys Creek Grid Reference 966.90 905.07
Information below from: http://java.sun.com/people/monicap/xanthor/
Xanthorrhoea is an Australian native plant genus. Commonly called grass trees, Xanthorrhoea plants are also known as balga grass to the Australian aborigines, which is their word for black boy. The Aborigines probably called these plants balga because after a wild fire, the bottom leaves burn away revealing a singed black trunk with long green reed-like leaves extending from the top of the trunk giving the appearance of black figures.
Australian Aborigines collected the resin flakes from around the base of the stalk, heated them, and rolled the resulting substance into balls. The resin would later be reheated and used to glue stone flakes to wooden spear shafts or woomeras, and to join and repair various broken implements.
Aborigines lit fires by rubbing two pieces of the dry flower stalk together, soaked the flower spikes in water to make a sweet fresh or slightly fermented drink, and used the tough seed pods as knives to cut meat or harvest insect larvae from inside the old flower stalks and the dead bases.
European settlers harvested the resinous gum to make varnishes and lacquers. During World War II many cans of tinned food sent to the Australian troops in the Pacific had a protective coat of grass tree varnish to keep the containers from rusting.
The spikes are packed with strongly scented flowers and attract a wide variety of insect, bird, and mammal pollinators.
Webmaster: Don Hitchcock
Email: don@northnet.com.au
Anyone (e.g. students, libraries, government agencies such as tourist bureaus, the general public) may use, print and publish these photographs taken by me and presented on this website for any legitimate non-commercial purpose, at no cost, and without asking permission. However a note such as "Photo: Don Hitchcock" in a small typeface somewhere in the document would be appreciated if it is to be published.
