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Parramatta grass

Photo of Parramatta grass

Parramatta grass



General information

A native of South Africa, Parramatta grass (Sporobolus africanus) is similar in appearance to giant rat's tail grass and even the experts have difficulty differentiating the two. Both are clumping grasses that can invade pastures and replace more productive types of grass. 

Parramatta grass is a declared Class 2 plant under Queensland legislation.

Scientific name Sporobolus africanus
Impacts
  • invades pastures and replaces productive grasses
  • known to dominate in wet, swampy areas
Description
  • a perennial grass up to 50 cm in height with fibrous roots
  • has green seed heads, up to 20 cm long
  • leaves are blue-green, up to 5 mm wide, 6-18 cm long erect or spreading
  • seeds are brown and about 1 mm in diameter
  • has dark-green flowers, 2-20 cm spike-like panicle, 1.5cm to 2 cm spikelets
Habitat and distribution
  • spreads mainly in soil on machinery and vehicles
  • seeds become sticky when damp and can adhere to animals and clothes
  • prefers areas with compacted soil and roadsides
  • occurs mostly on coastal soils in New South Wales
  • found in North and South America, southern Asia, Indonesia, South Pacific islands, New Zealand and Australia
Control
  • hand pull small plants
  • herbicide may be effective
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

Author: Sonia Jordan
Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 11 September 2007
URL: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7333_ENA_HTML.htm

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