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	Spinifex littoreus   The tumbleweed is Nature's own beach ball played by the wind ! It is fascinating to see the paper-light globular inflorescences rolling and tumbling around the sand dunes. They do so over considerable distances and do not stop till the last of its long-bristled (seed-bearing) spikelets get disarticulated and embedded into the loose sand. Spinifex is probably the only grass with which one can easily study the route of wind-dispersal with the naked eyes ! And it should provide children hours of great outdoor fun running after these tumbling 'balls' and learning at the same time the important role Spinifex and other grasses play in sand-binding and protection of the beach. The vernacular name, Lari-lari (meaning 'run' in Malay) may reflect a favourite past-time activity for children growing up with the beach near their homes. See close-up of hermaphrodite inflorescence and spikelets of male inflorescence which attracts both ants and aphids. Now... who says grass is not interesting, hmm ? : ) Plant-geography and ecology cannot be learnt indoors ! Run, children, run !
	©Joseph Lai 2003