Triodia scintillans
Triodia scintillans, the sparkling spinifex, or salt and vinegar chips spinifex is a species of grass in the genus Triodia. It tastes like salt and vinegar potato chips. Names The specific epithet scintillans was chosen with help from Alex George and derives from the Latin word which means "to sparkle". This refers to the distinct sparkly droplets on young leaves which is especially apparent in direct sun. The common name "sparkling spinifex" is a calque of that Latin binomial. Although this plant is not in the genus Spinifex, members of the genus Triodia are commonly called "spinifex". T. vanleeuwenii is also called sparking spinifex. Triodia scintillans is referred to as salt and vinegar chips spinifex because the little leaf droplets have a similar taste to the chips. The plant was not tasted intentionally, and eating it is not recommended. The species was informally called "Triodia sp. Warrawagine" initially, referencing a cattle station in the region. Taxonomy Triodia scintillans is in the T. basedowii species complex along with eight other species, T. basedowii, T. birriliburu, T. chichesterensis, T. glabra, T. lanigera, T. mallota, T. nana, and T. vanleeuwenii. Within the complex, it is in an informal clade called the eastern group,