Display all 24 images
Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
Display IBRA region text
Glenelg Plain (NCP02) | Naracoorte Coastal Plain | Vulnerable (IUCN: VU D2) |
Tintinara (NCP04) | | Near Threatened |
Fleurieu (KAN02) | Kanmantoo | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) [difficult to ID Triodias] |
Mount Lofty Ranges (FLB01) | Flinders Lofty Block | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) [difficult to ID Triodias] |
Broughton (FLB02) | | Least Concern |
Olary Spur (FLB03) | | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) |
Southern Flinders (FLB04) | | Least Concern |
Northern Flinders (FLB05) | | Near Threatened |
Central Flinders (FLB06) | | Least Concern |
St Vincent (EYB02) | Eyre Yorke Block | Endangered (IUCN: EN B2ab(ii,iii)) (Probable Decline) |
Eyre Hills (EYB03) | | Least Concern |
Talia (EYB04) | | Least Concern |
Eyre Mallee (EYB05) | | Least Concern |
South Olary Plain (MDD01) | Murray Darling Depression | Least Concern |
Murray Mallee (MDD02) | | Least Concern |
Murray Lakes and Coorong (MDD03) | | Endangered (IUCN: EN B2ab(i,ii,iii)) (Probable Decline) [likely to be locally extinct] |
Lowan Mallee (MDD04) | | Least Concern |
Wimmera (MDD05) | | Endangered (IUCN: EN B2ab(i,ii,iii)) (Probable Decline) [likely to be locally extinct] |
Murray Scroll Belt (RIV06) | Riverina | Least Concern |
Myall Plains (GAW01) | Gawler | Least Concern |
Gawler Volcanics (GAW02) | | Least Concern |
Gawler Lakes (GAW03) | | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) [limited habitat] |
Kingoonya (GAW05) | | Least Concern |
Maralinga (GVD03) | Great Victoria Desert | Least Concern |
Kintore (GVD04) | | Least Concern |
Yellabinna (GVD06) | | Least Concern |
Carlisle (NUL01) | Nullarbor | Least Concern |
Mann-Musgrave Block (CER01) | Central Ranges | Least Concern |
Watarru (CER02) | | Least Concern |
Everard Block (CER03) | | Near Threatened |
Tieyon (FIN03) | Finke | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) [edge of range] |
2 of 4 subregions | Naracoorte Coastal Plain | Near Threatened , Vulnerable |
Fleurieu (KAN02) | Kanmantoo | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) [difficult to ID Triodias] |
6 of 6 subregions | Flinders Lofty Block | Least Concern , Near Threatened , Rare |
4 of 5 subregions | Eyre Yorke Block | Least Concern , Endangered |
5 of 6 subregions | Murray Darling Depression | Least Concern , Endangered |
Murray Scroll Belt (RIV06) | Riverina | Least Concern |
4 of 8 subregions | Gawler | Least Concern , Rare |
3 of 4 subregions | Great Victoria Desert | Least Concern |
Carlisle (NUL01) | Nullarbor | Least Concern |
3 of 3 subregions | Central Ranges | Least Concern , Near Threatened |
Tieyon (FIN03) | Finke | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) [edge of range] |
Botanical art
Kath Alcock paintings: 7
Prior names
Triodia scariosa ssp. scariosa
Triodia bunicola
Triodia irritans var. laxispicata
Triodia irritans var. laxispicata, partly
Triodia scariosa ssp. bunicola, partly
Common names
Porcupine Grass
Spinifex
Etymology
Triodia from the Greek 'treis' meaning three and 'odous' meaning tooth; referring to the 3-toothed or 3-lobed lemmas. Scariosa means thin, dry.
Distribution and status
Found throughout much of South Australia on a wide range of soils in mallee, on creek beds, banks and swamp margins. Also found in all mainland states except for the Northern Territory. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Nullarbor, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Tussock and hummock-forming perennial 1m high x 2 m wide, which may become ring-like or crescentic when old. Leaf blades straight, aciculate, conduplicate, 4�27cm long, 0.7�2 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence a narrow but loose panicle. Spikelets 4-9-flowered, linear or lanceolate, 9-16 mm long. Flowering July - April. Fruits are glumes 5�10 mm long, acute or obtuse, keeled, often lightly scabrous, glabrous. Lemmas 4.5�7 mm long, emarginate. Seeds are seeds, brown, ellipsoid, 2.5mm long, 1mm wide.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between December and March. Seed is collected opportunisitically with seed production dependent on rainfall. Remove seed by cutting the stalks below the dried flowers. Clean seed by rubbing the grain through a sieve and aspirating the chaff.
Germination table:
Display