Chilean Needle-grass

Images ©:

Chilean Needle-grass - John Edwards via NatureShare | Chilean Needle-grass - John Edwards via NatureShare | Chilean Needle-grass - John Edwards via NatureShare

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
Grasses
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.

Native Status
Introduced
Flowering Time

Sep-Feb