Exploring the Empowering Messages of Magical Girlas Manga on Mangadex

By admin

When it comes to manga and anime, one popular genre that has gained a lot of popularity over the years is magical girl. Magical girl manga and anime typically center around young girls who possess magical powers and use them to fight off evil forces. These stories usually contain elements of fantasy, action, and often have a strong focus on friendship and teamwork. One popular platform where fans can find and read magical girl manga is MangaDex. Known as a popular online manga reader, MangaDex offers a wide range of manga in various genres, including magical girl. Many fans of this genre turn to MangaDex to search for new series or catch up on ongoing ones.


Traditionally grazing mobs of kangaroos did provide some fertiliser for KG. Today this can be mimicked by a flock of sheep. The KG is ‘crash grazed’ (for a few days) in late spring before November flowering or in late autumn/early winter before the soil becomes wet and is likely to pug.

Various places have their own superstitions surrounding the fairy rings, but for the most part the myths involve fairies or supernatural creatures either dancing around the ring, or have the ring serving as a portal between the fairy realm and our world. To the consternation and frustration of those now seeking unblemished lawns, ridding a yard of a fairy ring can be as tricky as dealing with the legendary fairy-folk.

Brushed grasslands cursed with understanding

Many fans of this genre turn to MangaDex to search for new series or catch up on ongoing ones. One of the reasons why people may look up magical girl manga on MangaDex is the convenience it offers. With a user-friendly interface and easy navigation, finding and reading magical girl manga becomes hassle-free.

Brushed grasslands cursed with understanding

Kangaroo Grass, Themeda triandra

A tree without a trunk

Revelations are moments in life when strongly held opinions are radically changed by a new insight. One such revelation for me was on a grasslands tour in 2016 with Dr John Morgan, a plant ecologist from La Trobe University - click here to John's interesting blog site.

My revelation came when John Morgan told me that Kangaroo Grass (KG) can live for more than 100 years if it is well managed. To emphasise his point he called it 'a tree without a trunk'.

Regular cool burning every five to ten years is part of the secret of keeping KG healthy and long lived.

I had always thought that the longest living Australian plants were trees, but now I had to accept from this very reliable source that a common native grass that only grows to about knee high could outlive many trees.

The origin of the botanical name is Arabic and Latin

Themeda is from the Arabic word thaemed which means ‘a rain filled depression that dries out in summer’. This concisely describes the ability of Kangaroo Grass to do well in both moist rich soils as well as dry environments.

triandra is from the Latin ‘tri’ & ‘andrus’ meaning three males. This tells us it that ‘the flowers have three male reproductive parts or stamen’. It's a subtle feature that can help identify KG

To pronounce the scientific name, the genus Them-eda starts with a soft 'th' as in think and theme. The species name is as simple as it looks, Try-and-dra.

Nature notes

The traditional grazing food of kangaroos and wallabies. KG tussocks provide excellent habitat for reptiles, amphibians and small mammals like skinks, legless lizards, frogs and dunnarts.
​The seeds are an important food for finches and parrots.

KG attracts butterflies like the Common Brown, Heteronympha merope and 13 other species

Kangaroo Grass in the foreground of our garden

Kangaroo Grass in the garden

I have always been a fan of Kangaroo Grass (KG) because it’s such a hardy, attractive and useful plant. Its unique flower head or floret provides a rustic yet beautiful contrast. The florets and flowering stems mature to a vibrant bronze colour over summer making it a feature in any garden either as a single specimen or as a clump.

You’re more likely to attract butterflies to your garden if you plant it in clumps of five or more. To give you an idea of a good spacing for each plant, in a natural grassland a healthy clump of KG has about 10 plants/m 2. That works out to a plant spacing of 25 - 30 cm

John Batman was a fan

A love of KG is something I apparently share with the founder of Melbourne John Batman, who got very excited when he first wandered around 'Djillong' in 1835. (The Wadawurrung name for Geelong means 'tongue of land')

Batman was describing Kangaroo Grasslands on a walk across the Bellarine Peninsula when he wrote;

We passed into the country and at a distance of four miles (6.4km) commenced travelling over land a little sandy in places, but of the finest description for grazing purposes; nearly all parts of its surface covered with Kangaroo and other grasses of the most nutritive character, intermixed with herbs of various kinds’.
John Batman 29 May 1835. Rebecca Journal

What John Batman could have seen in the spring of 1835. Image from Volcano Dreaming panels

Because it is also a native to Africa and Asia, no doubt Batman knew its value as a nutritious perennial pasture grass. Remarkably it just keeps on giving and doesn’t need much fertiliser, like most Australian plants that have adapted to our leached ancient soils.

30,000 year old seed grinding stone. Australian Museum (click on the image to read more)

The First Australians

When the first fleet arrived in 1787 it is estimated that Kangaroo Grasslands covered 70% of Australia. So it’s not surprising that it was highly valued by the First Australians who harvested its protein rich grain for bread making.

Bruce Pascoe, in his acclaimed book Dark Emu, quotes archaeological evidence that KG and other grasses were ground into flower for bread making 30,000 years ago. This is 13,000 years before the Egyptians began baking in 17,000 BC. Click here to the Australian Museum's article on this topic

It was regularly burnt to produce a green pick to encourage mobs of kangaroos to graze near woodlands where they could be conveniently speared for food.

Making a Kangaroo Grass seed biscuit

Inspired by Dark Emu I decided to make a KG seed biscuit. I selected 100 KG seeds (approx. 0.5 grams) from last summers garden harvest, removed the awns and ground the seeds with a mortar & pestle. The flower was then separated from the husks with a kitchen sieve and then a little water added to make pastry for a small biscuit, which was baked without oil in a non-stick pan until crisp.

As you can see from the photos below, it made a biscuit worthy of the Guinness World Records as the smallest ever made. Though it was large enough to taste the unique flavour.
Read more about baking a commercial loaf of bread using KG here

I understand that the seed is gluten free and this was my observation during the making of the biscuit. The flower did glue together well and held its shape in the frying pan because of the starch released during the mashing process.

In 100 grams of KG there is :
Energy: 1819 kJ. Protein: 19.8-21.7 g. Total fats: 8.5 g. Saturated fats: 0.9 g. Unsaturated fats: 7.6 g. Total carbohydrates: 52 g. Total minerals: 9.6 g.m.
(Ref: Native Grains from paddock to plate. Sydney University study. September 2020)

A photo record of making a Kangaroo Grass seed biscuit 100 Kangaroo Grass seeds with awns attached. (approx 0.5g) 100 seeds with awns removed 100 seeds ready to grind kangaroo Grass flour bottom, KG husks at top after separating through a kitchen sieve The worlds smallest Kangaroo Grass seed biscuit before baking Baked Kangaroo Grass seed biscuit ready for tasting

How it tasted

The flavour was pleasant and nutty with a strong element of rye. I gave it 7/10, my wife 5/10
The appearance was grey-brown with some visible fibres before cooking. After cooking it was a pumpernickel bread dark brown colour. My wife and I both gave it a 5/10 for counter-top appeal.

Interestingly we both had a sensation of astringency on the tip of our tongues a few minutes after eating the biscuit which lasted about 5 minutes. Overall we thought the KG seed biscuit had potential and deserved further trials. Read here about using KG seed flour in bread making

Traditionally native grasslands were grazed in a patchwork by kangaroos

Managing your patch of Kangaroo Grass.

Traditionally grazing mobs of kangaroos did provide some fertiliser for KG. Today this can be mimicked by a flock of sheep. The KG is ‘crash grazed’ (for a few days) in late spring before November flowering or in late autumn/early winter before the soil becomes wet and is likely to pug.

Slashing and removing the slash is an alternative management method

If you’re lucky enough to have a patch of KG on your property you can keep it healthy with a combination of grazing/slashing and burning every 5 – 10 years. This helps to minimise the build-up of dead grass (thatch) around the base of plants and prevents them from becoming overcrowded (fewer than 15 plants/m 2 is recommended). Both the build-up of thatch and overcrowding will cause KG plants to slowly die.

If it is lightly grazed it stays green throughout the summer, making it an excellent fire break as well.


KG expert and a self-confessed enthusiast John Delpratt writes;

‘KG is a fantastic grass – with just enough quirks to make it challenging and fun as well. As the dominant component of a roadside reserve, it is relatively easily managed by periodic burning or slashing. It grows actively in late spring and summer and its tussock structure can support a wide diversity of other grasses and seasonally-colourful wildflowers, providing the traveller with a wonderfully Australian sense of place. A well-managed Themeda community is resilient and very resistant to weed invasion’.

John Delpratt is an Honorary Fellow with the University of Melbourne. He was a lecturer in plant production and seed technology at the University’s Burnley campus for 25 years prior to his retirement. To read more about John and his fascination with KG click here

KG as a valuable crop

KG is a valuable crop and will return consistently $1000/ha or more. Its seeds can be harvested in late December when flower heads (florets) are stripped with a purpose built harvester and blown into wool-bales. One hectare will usually yield one wool bale which is valued at $1,000 - $2,000 for revegetation projects. That's not bad for a perennial crop that needs no fertiliser and will provide good yields for 100 years or more without needing to be re-sown.

Cleaned seed sells for around $3/g and there are 210 seeds without awns/g (Fiona Love pers. com.)

Much of the microfine Merino wool that has achieved extraordinary prices on international markets is grown on native pastures like KG

The Bandicoot Native Grass Harvester in action on a roadside reserve

Harvesting Kangaroo Grasswhen and how

KG is ready to harvest in late December when the seed is dark brown and the dark brown awn (tail) remains firmly attached to the seed when you give it a gentle tug. If the awn is not visible on the florets, the seeds have probably dropped and it’s too late to harvest. On these occasions look for KG on moister ground or in shady environments that may still be holding seed. The florets can carry up to seven seeds, though two/three seeds are infertile.

Large quantities

Collecting Kangaroo Grass in large quantities is conveniently done with a purpose built harvester like the Bandicoot Native Grass Harvester. The Bandicoot can be towed behind a ute or a quad bike. It has rotating brushes that remove the florets and shoots them into a trailer or a wool-bale. This machine has a height adjustment for harvesting different species of native grasses.

An alternative technique is to use a combination of a sickle-bar mower or brush cutter and a portable industrial vacuum cleaner. The florets should be collected within 24 hours of cutting, before the seed is released.

A small collection of florets can yield sufficient seeds to grow 100 + plants for the home garden

Collecting smaller quantities for growing in tubestock

I have found a small scythe (rice harvester) is convenient for harvesting KG. Secateurs also work well to cut bunches of stems before pushing them floret first into a large plastic bucket/bin.

With both large and small quantity harvesting, the seed needs to dry before it is stored long term. This is conveniently done in open wool-bales with large quantities. I found large open plastic bread trays, open bins or large paper bags ideal for the small quantities required for nursery production.

As the florets dry the mature seeds with awns attached drop out and falls to the bottom of the bucket or paper bag.

Bellarine Landcare Nursery has developed a more sophisticated method of separating the seed from the florets. The harvested florets are spread over a large metal grill that sits over a lined box. Disturbing the florets from time to time allows the seeds to drop through. It’s then an easy process to separate the fallen seeds from the fragments of florets. The cleaned seed can be stored with or without the awn in a zip-lock bag and remains viable for decades if kept in a cool dark place.

Lookig up to magical girlas mangadex

Users can simply search for the genre or filter their search results to find precisely what they are looking for. Furthermore, MangaDex also allows users to access a vast collection of manga for free. This is especially appealing for fans who want to explore different magical girl series without having to pay for each individual volume. The availability of numerous magical girl manga titles on MangaDex ensures that fans will never run out of options to enjoy. In addition to convenience and cost-effectiveness, MangaDex also provides an interactive community for fans. Users can leave comments and discuss their thoughts on specific manga chapters or series. This feature allows fans to connect with like-minded individuals who share their love for magical girl manga. It also creates a sense of community and engagement within the manga-reading experience. Another aspect that makes MangaDex appealing for magical girl manga enthusiasts is its ability to keep up with the latest releases. MangaDex typically updates its library regularly, ensuring that fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite ongoing series. This allows fans to follow the adventures of their beloved magical girl characters as the stories unfold. Overall, MangaDex offers a convenient and enjoyable platform for fans to explore and read magical girl manga. Whether you are a seasoned fan or just starting to delve into this genre, MangaDex provides a wide collection of magical girl titles, accessible for free, and supported by an interactive community. So, if you are looking to immerse yourself in the fantastical world of magical girls, MangaDex is certainly worth checking out..

Reviews for "The Magical Girlas Renaissance: How Mangadex is Redefining the Genre"

- Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Looking up to Magical Girls" to be disappointing. The artwork was mediocre at best, with inconsistent character designs and unimpressive action scenes. The story lacked depth and felt cliché, following the same formula we've seen in countless other magical girl mangas. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development, making it difficult to connect with or care about their struggles. Overall, I was hoping for more from this manga, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
- David - 2.5 stars - I had high hopes for "Looking up to Magical Girls" but was ultimately let down. The plot was predictable and lacked excitement, and the pacing felt slow and dragging. The character development was minimal, leaving me feeling detached from the story. Additionally, the dialogue felt unnatural and forced, making it difficult to become fully absorbed in the manga. While the concept had potential, the execution fell short, and I wouldn't recommend it to other manga enthusiasts.
- Emily - 3 stars - "Looking up to Magical Girls" was okay, but it didn't live up to the hype for me. The art style was decent, though nothing particularly impressive. The storyline felt rushed and lacked proper world-building, leaving many unanswered questions. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in their journeys. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing for more substance and originality in this manga.
- Jason - 2 stars - "Looking up to Magical Girls" was a disappointment, to say the least. The artwork was subpar, with sloppy line work and unappealing character designs. The plot was unoriginal and lacked any real surprises or twists, making it a predictable read. The pacing was slow, and it took too long for any significant action or character development to occur. Overall, I found this manga to be a forgettable and unremarkable addition to the magical girl genre.

Rediscovering the Magic: Why Adult Readers Are Turning to Magical Girlas Manga on Mangadex

Magical Girlas Manga on Mangadex: A Gateway into the World of Manga