grass tree

noun

1. 1.An Australian plant of the genus Xanthorrhoea (order Asparagales, having a thick trunk crowned with a dense tuft of pendulous, grass-like leaves, from whose centre arises a long stem, bearing at its summit a dense flower spike looking somewhat like a large cat-tail.
2. 2.A New Zealand shrub of the genus Dracophyllum, that grows up to 12 m high and found throughout in drier climates and at higher altitudes, with slender erect or spreading branches. Rigid, leathery grass-like leaves are usually crowded towards the tip of the branchlets. Also called spiderwood.
3. 3.A similar Australian plant, Kingia australis (family Dasypogonaceae).
4. 4.Dasylirion longissimum (family Asparagaceae), the Mexican grass tree
5. 5.Dracophyllum (family Ericaceae), a genus of about 100 species.