'TJINALPA' HUMMOCK GRASS / SOFT SPINIFEX (Triodia pungens) Seeds

A common sight across the arid region of Central Australia are the Soft Spinifex a Perennial, hardy clumping grass. A bold, tough & useful ornamental planting, for feature landscapes & erosion stabilisation.

Soft spinifexes are perennial grasses, forming straggly hummocks to 80cm tall and up to 2m across.  Stems are smooth, slender and coated with resin. The seed heads are spear shaped and on single spikes. New plants may develop from runners.

The seeds of tjinalpa are energy dense (1615 kJ/100 g), low in fat (5.6 g/100 g)*

Bush food: The seeds can be collected and ground into seedcakes (nyuma) for food. 

Other uses: The resin from the plant was used as an adhesive for spears, axes, and other tools and as an adhesive for housing. The plant was burned to produce a strong black smoke that was used for communication.

The stems, seed stalks, leaves, and stolons were used for basket weaving also for making fiber for string and cordage.

The plant is currently being researched due to its resinous properties as a Termite timber coating.

*Napangarti, Y., Napangarti, Y., Nanagala, J. et al. Ethnobotany of Tjinalpa (Triodia pungens, Poaceae): Processing Techniques and Nutritional Assay of a Rare Desert Aboriginal Seed Food. Econ Bot 78, 330–338 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-024-09604-2