Plants of
South Australia
Triodia scariosa
Poaceae
Porcupine Grass,
Spinifex
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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
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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:
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