ruthbancroftgarden:

Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata

The various species of Xanthorrhoea are commonly called “grass trees” because of their narrow grass-like foliage. They are slow-growing  plants from Australia, but some of them eventually develop a trunk, so this accounts for the “tree” part of the name. At the Ruth Bancroft Garden we have 3 species of Xanthorrhoea, and X. quadrangulata is the only one which flowers in the late summer to early autumn. The flower stalks look like giant pipe-cleaners, and the upper part which bears the flowers is initially a glistening deep green. Then the flowers start to emerge like tiny white stars (first just a few, and then many as they get going). Bees are attracted to the flowers, and one can be seen visiting in the middle photo. This plant is native to the state of South Australia, near Adelaide and Port Augusta.

-Brian