Xanthorrhoea
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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Xanthorrhoea
a genus of monocotyledonous plants of the family Xanthorrhoeceae (formerly considered to be in the family Liliaceae). There are 11 or 12 xerophilous species, growing primarily on dry Australian savannas. The plants are arborescent, sometimes slightly branched, with a rosette (or rosettes) of leaves on the top. The leaves, which are large, brittle, and linear, reach a length of 1 m. As a result of their form of growth, these plants are classified among the “grass trees.” Some species of Xanthorrhoea yield a resin that is used for making varnishes.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.