Xanthorrhoea media

Scientific name: Xanthorrhoea media

Common name: Grass Tree

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Location

It is a 0.5 m tall, grass-like shrub which can be found in the bed next to the Education Centre - the Woolloomooloo Gate is the closest entrance.

Its natural distribution is from Stony Hill to Hilltop on the central coast of New South Wales and as far north-west as Sandy Hollow. Occurs on sandstone, usually on the drier, more exposed ridges and hillsides. Grass trees were used by the Aborigines as a source of nectar and resin, they flower spikes were also used to make spears. This specimen was planted (at close to its present size) in 1992.