Serrated Tussock
Nassella trichotoma
Dense, drooping tussock 60 cm tall to 75 cm wide. Leaves up to 50 cm long, stiff, narrow and rounded, 0.5 mm in diameter, white at the base. Flowerheads purplish, 40 cm long, drooping, with many fine brittle branches. Plants look purplish in flower but are bleached in autumn-winter.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Grasses |
| Distinctive Features | Leaves are bristle-like with rough surfaces. The small serrations can be felt when fingers are moved downward along the blade. The leaf blade can be smoothly rolled between the fingers, where similar native species feel flat when rolled. |
| Biology | Perennial. Tough long-lived species that can invade poor soils and survive fire, drought and frost. It reduces the productivity of pasture and can create a fire hazard. Its fibre content is so high that stock are unable to digest it. Seeds are spread mainly by the wind but also by water and animals. The seed remains viable in the soil for more than 13 years. |
| Native Status | Introduced |
| Flowering Time | Sep-Feb |