Weed Identification

Australia > > Lobed Needlegrass

Lobed Needlegrass

Nassella charruana

THIS PLANT IS ON THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT LIST
http://www.weeds.gov.au/weeds/lists/alert.html

Family: Poaceae

Form: Grass

Origin: Native to Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and south eastern Brazil.

Flowers/Seedhead: Seedhead: Grows to 30 cm long. Spikelets with glumes c. 1.7 cm long, end of lemma near callus covered with white hairs; awns twice bent, to 8.5 cm long. Flowers spring and summer.

Description: Tussock-forming perennial to 1 m high. Stems erect, hollow.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by nodes without hairs; glumes translucent to straw-coloured; presence of large, pale brown to white lobes on top of the lemma and about as long as the dark brown lemma (see photo). Leaf blades to 2 mm wide; ligule to 1 mm long.

Dispersal: Spread by seed.


Tufts 70 cm high, roadside
Thomastown, Vic
photo J.R. Hosking

Notes: Only known from a few locations in Victoria. First recorded in 1995. Forms competitive dense stands. This species gives every indication of being an extremely serious agricultural and environmental weed. Regarded as a grass of poor feed value and is considered a weed in its native range. Seeds penetrate fur and skin. Reported to prefer clay soils in its native range. A program aimed at eradicating this species began in Victoria in 1998.

References:

    Plant Protection Quarterly. N. Walsh, 1998, Vol. 13, pages 59–62. Plant Protection Quarterly. D. McLaren et al., 1998, Vol. 13, pages 62–70.

Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.

Straw coloured glumes, leaf & nodes without hairs
photo J.R. Hosking
Distinctive pale brown to white lobes at top of the lemma
& around the awn
Inset: seed

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card G11

More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd.

 

Australia > > Lobed Needlegrass

SITE MAP

Site Map

National Weeds Strategy | Weed Identification | State and Territory Contacts | About Weeds Australia
Australian Weeds Committee | Target Species for Biological Control | Training and Materials
Web Addresses | Feedback | Weeds of National Significance | Noxious Weeds List
Glossary of Acronyms | National Weeds Management Facilitator

National Weeds Strategy
Telephone: (03) 6344 9657
Fax: (03) 6343 1877
Email: jthorp@weeds.org.au

Privacy Statement

Legal Notice

 Site Design - Computer Support Tasmania
© Australian Weeds Committee
National Weeds Strategy State and Territory Contacts Australian Weeds Committee Web Addresses and Other Stuff Weeds of National Significance Glossary of Acronyms Weed Identification & Information About Weeds Australia Target Species for Biological Control Training and Materials Feedback Noxious Weeds List Search Weeds Australia National Weeds Management Facilitator Home