© Chilean Needle-grass - John Edwards via NatureShare
Chilean Needle-grass
Nassella neesiana
Dense, arching tussocks with leaves to 30 cm long and 5 mm wide, flat and strongly ribbed on their upper surface, with leaf edges that are rough to touch. Flowering stems to 1 m high. Spikelets in loose clusters to 40 cm long are distinctively purplish when young.
Details |
Flora Type |
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Distinctive Features |
The sharp-pointed seeds easily attach to the coats of animals, clothing and machinery, aiding its spread.
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Biology |
Perennial. Poor soils. Hardy species that survives fire, drought and frost. Stock avoid eating it, reducing farm productivity by as much as 50% during summer. It can produce thousands of seeds per square metre, which stay viable in the soil for many years.
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Native Status |
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Flowering Time |
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Dense, arching tussocks with leaves to 30 cm long and 5 mm wide, flat and strongly ribbed on their upper surface, with leaf edges that are rough to touch. Flowering stems to 1 m high. Spikelets in loose clusters to 40 cm long are distinctively purplish when young.
Details |
Flora Type |
|
Distinctive Features |
The sharp-pointed seeds easily attach to the coats of animals, clothing and machinery, aiding its spread.
|
Biology |
Perennial. Poor soils. Hardy species that survives fire, drought and frost. Stock avoid eating it, reducing farm productivity by as much as 50% during summer. It can produce thousands of seeds per square metre, which stay viable in the soil for many years.
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Native Status |
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Flowering Time |
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Taxonomy |
Phylum |
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
Class |
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
Order |
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Family |
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Genus |
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Species |
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Chilean needle grass is a declared noxious weed throughout Vic. It is also a declared weed of National Significance. It is threatening endangered native grasslands as well as productive pastures throughout significant regions of south-eastern Australia.
Interesting Facts |
Similar Species |
This weed can look very similar to native speargrasses Austrostipa spp. To distinguish, compare the seeds. Chilean needle-grass seeds have a raised crown (corona), a ridge of small teeth circling the awn (bristle), located at the junction of the seed and the awn. Austrostipa seeds do not have this feature.
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Native Status |
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