Spinifex (coastal grass)

This article is about the grasses of Asia and Australia. For the Australian grasses commonly referred to as spinifex, see Triodia (plant).

Spinifex is a genus of perennial coastal plants in the grass family.^[2][3][4][5]

Spinifex
Spinifex longifolius Grant Marine Park Cottesloe, Western Australia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Subtribe:	Cenchrinae
Genus:	Spinifex L.
Type species
Spinifex squarrosus (syn of S. littoreus)[1] L.
Synonyms[1]
Ixalum G.Forst

They are one of the most common plants that grow in sand dunes along the coasts of Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, with the ranges of some species extending north and west along the coasts of Asia as far as India and Japan.^[6] As they help stabilise the sand, these grasses are an important part of the entire sand dune ecosystem. The single species indigenous to New Zealand, Spinifex sericeus,^[7] is also found in Australia.^[8]

Confusingly, the word "spinifex" is also used as a common name referring to grasses in the related genus Triodia. Triodia however is native to inland Australia and refers to a group of spiny-leaved, tussock-forming grasses.

Spinifex seed head, resting on the beach.

Species

Species include:^[1][9]

• Spinifex × alterniflorus Nees – Western Australia
• Spinifex hirsutus Labill. – all 6 states of Australia
• Spinifex littoreus (Burm.f.) Merr. – Ashmore Reef in Western Australia; New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Indochina, Indian subcontinent, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan), Taiwan, Japan including Ryukyu Islands
• Spinifex longifolius R.Br. – Thailand, Indonesia, New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia
• Spinifex sericeus R.Br. – all 6 states of Australia plus Norfolk Island, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tonga

Formerly included

Species formerly included:^[1]

• Spinifex paradoxus (now Zygochloa paradoxa)