Grasstree

Grass-tree, a name applied in Australia to the various species of the liliaceous genus Xanthorrhcea. They have thick palm-like stems, which when blackened by bush-fires give the plants the name of Black-boys, and a. dense terminal tuft of long grass-like leaves that furnish good fodder. The stems exude abundance of fragrant resin, either yellow Botany Bay or Acaroid resin; or red Black-boy gum. From) them also picric acid (q.v.) is obtained. The similar juncaceous plant Kingia australis is known by the same name.