Spinifex Grassland covers 22% of the Australian continent, and is the most extensive vegetation type in Australia. Ernest Giles called it an abomination, as it was most uncomfortable to travel through, and wounded his horses legs with its needle like spikes. It is a plant that is extremely well adapted to surviving in the arid zone. There are two genera -Plectrachne and Trodia, and they are both endemic to Australia. There are around 30 species, the most species occurring in the desert ranges. Trodia basedowii or lobed spinifex is the most drought resistant species and is seen throughout the Simpson Desert as well as in the Great Victoria and Great Sandy Deserts. Its has an unusual growth pattern where the inner grass dies off and new stems sprout from the outside forming concentric patterns. Spinifex is a fire plant, and there has been frequent burning throughout history, including the much publicised "fire-stick farming" practises of the Aboriginals. As the plant continues to accumulate biomass, its volatile resins are explosive. The thermoplastic black resin used by Aboriginals as a cementing agent is obtained from spinifex.

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