X is for Xanthorrhoea

Xanthorrhoea fascinate me. They are native to Australia and there is a huge forest of very old plants about one hours drive from here.
The plants grow very slowly, about an inch per year, and by the size of plants in this forest they would all be, at the very least, 200 years old.
Their trunk is formed from the accumulated bases of the shirt of leaves that grow from the centre of the plant.
Bush fires stimulate them to flower and a long spike is pushed up from the centre of the trunk through the skirt of leaves. Then this spike bursts into flower.
While bush walking after a fire recently I came on these plants and most were in flower.

[Graham Harcombe]

Super collage Margaret, are these the famous Black-Boy plants?

[Margaret Pengelly]

@ellida Yes Graham but in this new age they go by their botanical name now.

[Sue Wilde]

This is fabulous. I've never seen so many

[Nita]

Amazing collage, the information is very interesting too.

[Mannie]

Thanks so much for the botany lesson and the beautiful collage. They look very similar to our southwestern United States yuccas.

[Margo]

I love these plants Well taken

[Ethel]

I also love these plants and your idea to record different states of their being is just super-duper

[Dione Giorgio]

Spectacular collage with wonderful shots. Very well done.

[Amanda Thepanda]

Awww - one of my fav plants. I have a big one in the front yard ...

[Lady Magpie (Heather)]

Lovely collage and the captures, have not seen these trees before.

[Muse]

Beautiful collage, and very interesting plant!

[Tricia O'Donnell]

One of my favourite plant the black boy

[Pyrrhula]

Great collage of beautiful pic.`s.
Thank you for you visit and the so nice comment. very much appreciated.