Navigation path
Guinea grass
Guinea grass seed heads
-
Guinea grass
General information
Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus var maximus) is an example of a useful fodder species that causes problems when growing in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Guinea grass is not a declared pest plant under Queensland legislation.
| Scientific name |
Megathyrsus maximus var maximus |
| Impacts |
- colonises disturbed sites, including roadsides, and particularly untended areas
- forms clumps and may foster soil erosion in invaded areas
- continued use as a fodder grass may lead to invasion of areas inaccessible to livestock and native areas
|
| Description |
- a perennial species which may form large clumps
- commonly grows up to 1.5 m high, some individual plants have been recorded at 3 m
- leaf blades are long, narrow and finely tipped
- leaves have a prominent mid-rib and are about 1 cm wide
- seed heads are large, up to 40 cm long and are well-spread, with a large number of fine branches
- seeds are oblong-shaped and often purple
|
| Habitat/distribution |
- seeds spread on the fur of native animals passing through an infestation
|
| Control |
- manual control by digging out with a mattock or similar tool
- herbicides effective
- see the guinea grass fact sheet for further information
|
| Declaration details |
- not a declared species under Queensland legislation but may be declared at a local government level under local laws
|
| Further information |
|
Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last reviewed 29 November 2011
