bits and pieces-15 Xanthorrhoea by annied

bits and pieces-15 Xanthorrhoea

All species of Xanthorrhoea are very slow growing BUT they are also long living; some elderly specimens are among the oldest living plants worldwide. They live for hundreds of years, some have been found to be up to 600 years old. A plant with a metre long trunk for example may already be 100 years old!!!

Xanthorrhoea plants are also known as Balga Grass Plants. ‘Balga’ is the Aboriginal word for black boy and for many years the plant was fondly known as a “Black Boy”. It is thought that the Aborigines called the plants Balga because after a bush fire had ravaged the land, the blackened trunk of the Xanthorrhoea would be revealed beneath the burned lower leaves, and would resemble a child like black figure. Others believe that the plant, with it’s bush fire blackened trunk and long flower spike resembled an Aboriginal boy wielding a spear. Whatever the case, as the years have passed, it is seen as an extremely racist name, and is thought to be very offensive to the original custodians of the land, so the plants are more commonly known as Grass Tree, because let’s face it Xanthorrhoea is a bit of a mouthful.

https://365project.org/annied/fun-with-themes/2020-11-16 Xanthorrhoea in colour
So interesting, and so unusual looking. Good to read your narrative as well.
January 18th, 2021  
Interesting photo and information Annie!
January 18th, 2021  
I had to check this out on google. Fascinating.
January 18th, 2021  
very interesting plant. nice linear image
January 18th, 2021  
So much neat info in your narrative.
Very cool composition with all the plants reaching for the sky.
January 18th, 2021  
Yep, all that, and I do love the plants, such lovely detailed little flowers on each spike when you look closely.
January 19th, 2021  
Fascinating! Beautiful image
January 19th, 2021  
Great image.
January 19th, 2021  
interesting history and to see the colour close up photo in its context.
January 19th, 2021  
This sounds like such an interesting plant. Amazing that it carries on growing after a bush fire.
January 23rd, 2021  
Thanks for this interesting info. What an extraordinary species! In Holland we've got all sorts of food with 'racist' names that are in name-transition at the moment. No grasses yet...
January 27th, 2021  
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