Blackboy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackboy |
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| Xanthorrhoea drummondii in Avon Valley National Park | |
| Scientific classification |
Xanthorrhoea drummondii, often called grasstree or Drummond's balga, is a unique plant from the Xanthorrhoea family. It is native to Western Australia, where it grows naturally. These plants are known for their tall, slender trunks and grassy leaves.
What it Looks Like
This amazing plant is a type of perennial, meaning it lives for many years. It can grow quite tall, reaching up to 4.5 metres (15 ft) (about 15 feet). The main trunk can be as thick as 2 metres (7 ft) (about 6.5 feet) around. It also has a special stem called a scape, which is about 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) (1.6 feet) long. From this scape, a flower spike grows, reaching up to 1.8 metres (6 ft) (nearly 6 feet) tall!
The Xanthorrhoea drummondii blooms between September and November. During this time, it produces beautiful yellow-white flowers.
Its main stem usually grows straight up with a single top part, called a crown. The young leaves stand up stiffly, forming a tuft. Older leaves often bend downwards, creating a "skirt" around the stem. These leaves are a grey-green color and have a special shape when you look at them closely, like a diamond or square. They are about 1.8 to 2.5 millimetres (0.07 to 0.10 in) wide and 1.3 to 2.3 millimetres (0.05 to 0.09 in) thick.
How it was Named
The Xanthorrhoea drummondii was first officially described by a botanist named William Henry Harvey. He wrote about it in 1855 in a science journal called Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany.
Where it Grows
You can find this grasstree in the hills around Perth in Western Australia. It also grows in coastal areas of the Mid West, Wheatbelt, and Great Southern regions. It prefers to grow in sandy soils that are found over a type of rock called laterite.
Growing in Gardens
X. drummondii can be grown in gardens. It's quite easy to grow from its seeds. This plant likes soil that is light and drains water well. It also needs plenty of sunshine. A great thing about this grasstree is that it can handle dry periods and is also resistant to frost.
Images for kids
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The "trunk" of Xanthorrhoea is a hollow ring of accumulated leaf bases. Nutrient transport is via aerial roots that run down the centre.
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5-metre-tall Xanthorrhea drummondii in the Avon Valley National Park, Western Australia
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X. australis flower spike, flowering
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X. preissii flower spike, after fruiting
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