Gamba grass

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Gamba grass

Gamba grass roadside infestation
Gamba grass
Gamba grass roadside infestation
Gamba grass roadside infestation


General information

Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) is a perennial tussock grass native to the tropical savannas of Africa. It was imported into Queensland as a pasture grass in 1942 but was not planted on a large scale until about 1983.

While gamba grass can be a useful cattle feed in far north Queensland, it also has significant negative impacts.

Gamba grass is a Class 2 declared plant of Queensland.

Scientific name

Andropogon gayanus
Impacts
  • invades non-grazed parcels of land such as conservation areas, semi-urban residential land and mining leases
  • can replace native grasses thereby reducing natural biodiversity on non-grazed land
  • its high biomass can fuel intense bushfires leading to loss of tree cover and long-term environmental damage
  • high intensity gamba grass fires can pose a threat to human safety and property
Description
  • a perennial tussock grass
  • grows to about 4-4.5 m
Habitat and distribution
  • exists as relatively small populations scattered across Queensland
  • mainly found across Cape York south to the Atherton Tablelands
Declaration details
  • a declared Class 2 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
  • control of declared pests is required by landholders
Further information

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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 22 October 2008

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