Adelaide Kangaroo Island Grass tree

► catepillar ◄, on February 23, said:

Amazing! I see it first time! :) Cheers! Kasia

Rafal Ociepka, on February 23, said:

What is this stick out of a tree?

By the way - very, very good photo, Margherita

Margherita-Italy, on February 23, said:

this stick out of the grass tree is the Seed

Xanthorrhoea is a genus of flowering plants native to Australia and a member of family Xanthorrhoeaceae. The Xanthorrhoeaceae are monocots, part of order Asparagales. There are 28 species and five subspecies of Xanthorrhoea.[1] All are perennials and have a secondary thickening meristem in the stem. Many, but not all, species develop an above ground stem. This is rough-surfaced, built from accumulated leaf-bases around the secondarily thickened trunk. The trunk is sometimes unbranched, some species will branch if the growing point is damaged and others naturally grow numerous branches. Flowers are borne on a long spike above a bare section called a scape, the total length can be up to four metres long in some species. Flowering occurs in a distinct flowering period, which varies for each species. Flowering can be stimulated by bushfire, in which case it occurs in the next flowering period after the fire.

It is commonly believed that the Xanthorrhoea grow at a rate of about an inch (2½ cm) per century. Xanthorrhoea do grow very slowly, but this is a gross underestimate: after an initial establishment phase the average rate of growth varies for each species but can be as high as about 2½ cm per year. Thus a five-metre tall member of one of the fastest growing Xanthorrhoea would be about 200 years old

brezzinka, on February 23, said:

bello Margherita !!

Tanya Buncheva, on February 24, said:

Interesting, I have seen this for the fist time in my life, too. It's look like a bird. Greetings, Tanya.

world of pictures by KlausH, on February 24, said:

very nice picture of this plant, Margherita. The yellow veld gives it something special. regards, Klaus