grass tree noun5 •(Australia) Any of various small trees of the family Xanthorrhoeaceae (especially of the genus Xanthorrhoea), having a thick trunk crowned with a dense tuft of pendulous, grass-like leaves.They ascended the incline of the ridge through a tract of country where prehistoric grasstrees and cycads stood in isolation among bloodwoods and stunted hickory […]. — 2002 •A New Zealand shrub of the genus Dracophyllum, that grows up to 12 m high and found throughout in drier climates and at higher altitudes, with slender erect or spreading branches. Rigid, leathery grass-like leaves are usually crowded towards the tip of the branchlets. Also called spiderwood. •Dasylirion longissimum (family Asparagaceae, Mexican grass tree) •Dracophyllum (family Ericaceae), a genus of about 100 species. •Richea pandanifolia (family Ericaceae, giant grass tree). formsgrass trees