Spiny-headed Mat-rush plantings (W.Pix)
Come along and get your hands dirty planting Spiny-headed Mat-rush, Lomandra longifolia on Winter Solstice, Sunday, 21 June.
We will plant on the west slope and continue the great work done by volunteers including the Majura Mountain Scouts over many years.
When: Sunday 21 June, from 1pm to approx. 3pm followed by afternoon tea. Please come early for an introduction; planting at the steep slope requires special attention.
In the event of bad weather the planting will be postponed to the following Sunday; please check this website or call 0435 357 172 close to the start time.
Where: Meet at the ParkCare notice board opposite the Hackett water tank off Rivett / French Sts intersections (view this map).
Please bring: Hat, sunscreen, long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy boots
Enquiries: secretary@majura.org or Ph. 62477515
Female Mat-rush with fruits https://australianseed.com
Lomandra longifolia, commonly known as Spiny-headed Mat-rush or Basket Grass, is a tufted, perennial herb with strap-like leaves up to 1m long. The scented flowers are borne on spiny spikes in spring to summer and male and female flowers are on separate plants. It grows in a variety of soil types and is frost, heat and drought tolerant.
The Spiny-headed Mat-rush has many uses in Indigenous Australians culture. The leave base can be chewed for a sweet morsel, the seeds are ground into flour to produce damper, the leaves are used to for weave baskets, mats, strings and fish traps and the roots to treat bites and stings.
The species copes with the harsh environments of Mt Majura’s west slope and some fine examples are the colonies growing on the Majura ridge and closer to the summit.
Spiny-head Mat-rush is one of the few perennial ground covers that are not grazed by kangaroos once it has established.
Reference
ACT Government (2014) Ngunnawal plant use. A traditional plant use guide for the ACT region. ACT Government, Canberra.
Meredith Cosgrove (2014) Photographic guide to native plants of the Australian Capital Territory. Meadow Argus.
