Common name: Mat Rush Family name: Xanthorrhoeaceae Botanical name: Lomandra longifolia Flowering/fruiting season: November Location: 'Common in savannah woodland and forest habitats.' (Burbidge & Gray, 1976:106)

Use:

• Food, technology, medicine
• Leaf bases edible (Flood, 1980:94)
• Mat rush leaves were used for making baskets. The method followed in the baskets made by Mrs Thelma Carter - the leaves once picked are split down the centre into two and left to dry for 3 or more days. Before being worked they are dampened with water for 24 hrs to render them pliable (Zola & Gott, 1992:59)
• Leaf bases and flowers eaten; leaves 'woven into mats and baskets and into bands around an aching limb to relieve pain.' (Fraser & McJannett, 1993:51)

Notes:
'… great abundance from Cape York Peninsula to Tasmania;' Individual clumps can be 1m diameter. Male and female flowers on separate plants … males have fewer, shorter spines …' both strongly and sweetly scented' … taste resembles 'fresh green peas'. (Cribb & Cribb, 1987:187)

Language names:
karawun : Wurundjeri Vic. (Zola & Gott, 1992:59)

Horticulture :
Hardy plant; grow in almost any soil and aspect (Wrigley & Fagg, 1998:171)

Similar species:
L. filiformis

Use code:
LEA, FLO

« « Go Back | Return to Top of Page