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Lomandra Multiflora

Description

Lomandra Multiflora, commonly known as many-flowered mat-rush, mat rush or many-flowered mat-lily is a tufted perennial, rhizomatous herb native to Australia. Lomandra Multiflora is part of the Lomandra genus with around 50 species, all of which are native to Australia and generally share common characteristics. There are two subspecies, Lomandra Multiflora subspecies dura, also known as stiff iron grass, and subspecies multiflora.

Lomandra Multiflora is a small grass-like tussocky plant with long flat rigid yellowish green leaves that are typically between 30 to 50 cm long but can grow from a range of 25cm to 90 cm long. The flat smooth leaves grow vertically and are rounded at the apex, often slightly concave or convex, around 2.5 to 4 cm wide. The margins of the leaf are brown, dry and membranous in texture which is slightly rough to the touch.

The subspecies multiflora has stiff narrow leaves that grow 25-90cm long, while subspecies dura has strap like leaves about 40cm tall. Lomandra multiflora subspecies dura also differs from subspecies multiflora in the flowers being more hidden in the hard bracts of the plant.

They are a diecious plant, meaning the male and female flowers are carried on separate plants, which is a distinct feature of the plant. During spring, the flowers show a creamy yellow colour which are arranged in clusters around the base of the leaves. The flowers have 6 petals, the inner petals are usually yellow and the outer petals reddish brown. The flowers grow in dense clusters on branch or unbranched spikes often 25cm-75cm with spiky white bracts. The male stalked and bell-shaped flowers are smaller than the female stalkless flowers. The male flowers grow on a branched stem whereas the female occur on unbranched.

Lomandra Multiflora’s staminate inflorescence, which is the closely grouped arrangement of the male flowers, is around 50-60 cm tall with whorled branches between 2 to 5.5 cm. The flowers are a greenish yellow colour with 6 tepals, the 3 outer tepal are around 1 mm long and 0.7-0.8 mm wide, the 3 inner tepals are approximately 0.8 mm long and 0.5 mm wide and thicker than the outer tepals. The pistillate inflorescence, which is the female flower, is unbranched and around 28-30 cm long. The clusters of flowers in whorls of up to 6 is measured to be up to 7.5mm long. The 3 outer tepals are around 3.1mm long and 2.9mm wide, the inner 3 tepals are 2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.

Lomandra Multiflora share very similar features with other species in the Lomandra genus, including Lomandra patens and Lomandra Ramosissima. They are all robust plants forming tussocks with rounded to obtuse leaves without teeth and male flowers that from clusters that branch in whorls. However, Lomandra Ramosissima can be differentiated from Lomandra Multiflora by the more branched female inflorescence and much shorter male flowers.

Etymology

The name Lomandra is derived from the Greek words “loma” meaning edge or margin and “andros” meaning male, which is a reference to a circular margin on the anthers, which is the male part of the plant. The specific name Multiflora comes from the Latin word “multi” meaning many, and “flora” meaning flower which refers to the flowering nature of the plant.

Distribution and Habitat

Lomandra Multiflora is found in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory of Australia and also in Papa New Guinea. Lomandra Multiflora has two subspecies: Lomandra Multiflora subspecies Multiflora and Lomandra Multiflora subspecies Dura. Subspecies Multiflora can be found naturally in Southern Papa New Guinea, Western Melbourne, and the North Eastern tip of Northern Territory. Subspecies Dura can only be found in Southern Australia, specifically in the Southern Flinders, Mt. Lofty Ranges, Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas.

Lomandra Multiflora grows chiefly in woodland and open forest on a variety of soils, widespread in mainly the drier areas of the regions.

Ecology

Lomandra multiflora’s optimal conditions for cultivation includes well drained soils grown in a range of climates, full sun, or semi-shade.

Propagation of Lomandra multiflora can be easily done through the seed or also by division of clumps. Seeds take around 8-10 weeks to germinate without pre-treatment.

The seed of the plant is a source of food for seed-eating birds, skinks, and lizards.

Uses

Lomandra Multiflora is a food for native Australian butterflies, including Trapezites Eliana and Trapezites Petalia, caterpillars, and moths.

Historically, indigenous people used the long leaves of Lomandra Multiflora for basket making and other forms of weaving, as well as the plant’s nectar as a food.

Lomandra Multiflora is a fire-retardant plant, meaning it does not catch on fire easily and resprouts from the base if burnt. It can also be used for stabilising banks. The plant can be useful and ideal as a foreground plant in a bush garden, cottage gardens and rockeries as it can withstand a range of different conditions, from frost to drought and brief swampy periods.