Mat-rush
Lomandra hystrix

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It forms tussocks. The leaves are 0.9-1.3 cm long by 0.5-1 cm wide. They are flat and thin textured. They are dark green and taper to the tip. There are 2-4 small teeth below the tip. The flowering stalks are about as long as the leaves. They are branched twice. The lower branches are in a ring and 20 cm long. Male and female flowers are similar. The flowers are 0.3-0.45 cm long and like a cylinder. They are cream to yellow. They occur in clusters in a ring. The fruit is a capsule 0.5 cm long.

There are about 50 Lomandra species. Also put in the family Dasypogonaceae.

Where it is found

It grows in subtropical and warm temperate climates. It grows in moist open forest and along streams. It can tolerate some frosts. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In Townsville Anderson BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Base leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or by division of the clump.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lomandra longifolia subsp. hystrix (R. Br.) A Lee; Lomandra longifolia var. hystrix (R. Br.) Domin; Xerotes hystrix R. Br.;