They are one of the most common plants that grow in
sand dunes along the coasts of
Africa,
Middle East,
Asia,
Australia,
New Zealand, and
New Caledonia, with the ranges of some species extending north and west along the coasts of
Asia as far as
India and
Japan.[6] As they help stabilise the sand, these grasses are an important part of the entire sand dune ecosystem. The single species indigenous to
New Zealand, Spinifex sericeus,[7] is also found in
Australia.[8]
Confusingly, the word "spinifex" is also used as a common name referring to grasses in the related genus Triodia. Triodia however is native to inland
Australia and refers to a group of spiny-leaved,
tussock-forming grasses.
^Mark, Alan F. (1 March 2009).
"Grasslands - Spinifex". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 31 January 2010.