Grass Tree

The form of the plant resembles a tree, with very long and bunched, grass-like, leaves that emerge from a central base. The trunk may grow over 3 metres tall, the often blackened appearance is evidence of its ability to withstand fire. The remains of the flammable leaves and the annual regrowth produce banding, allowing the age of the plant to be determined, and giving a record of previous fires in its habitat. The inflorescence appears on an upright spike, 1.5m to 2.5m long, between June and December. The sessile flowers, creamy or white, appear more profusely when stimulated by bushfire. It is found throughout coastal plains, near watercourses, and inland forest regions, in a range extending from Geraldton to Albany and in the Avon Wheatbelt. It occurs on a wide variety of soil types and is sometimes associated with laterite and granite.