Xanthorrhoea

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Xanthorrhoea (family Xanthorrhoeaceae) A genus of grass-trees, which are woody, perennial plants with narrow, sheathing, and linear leaves, and dry, papery flowers. The outer parts of the flower are like glumes, and thicker than the inner parts which are membranaceous and dry. The plants are often very tall, and are found in dry, open habitats and in Eucalyptus woodland, often on soils of low fertility. X. hastilis (black-boy) is found in the Australian bush, where it forms a tussock with a long, bulrush-like spike of flowers. It yields a resin from the leaf bases which is used in varnish and sealing wax. There are 15 species, found only in Australia.