Feathertop Rhodes grass

Chloris virgata

family

Poaceae

origin

Exotic

declaration

Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)

Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)

Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)

Common names

Feather finger grass, Feather windmill grass, Feathered chloris, Feathertop Rhodes, Feathertop Rhodes grass, Feathery Rhodes grass, Oldland grass, Sweet grass.

A short-lived tufted grass usually growing 15-100 cm tall. Its stems are upright or spread outwards at first with upright tips. Its long and narrow leaves (5-30 cm long and 2-8 mm wide) are mostly hairless. Its greyish-green or whitish seed -heads are feathery and borne at the tips of the stems. Each seed-head has several branches (3-10 cm long) that radiate from the same point. The branches have numerous hairy flower spikelets, which leave two small bracts behind when they fall off.

Leaf arrangement:Simple
Leaf form:Basal
White
Brown
Green

Impact

Impact

Though this grass is mainly a weed of agricultural areas and habitation, it is also regarded as an environmental weed in northern Australia (i.e. in Queensland and the Northern Territory). It spreads from crops, pastures, gardens, disturbed areas and roadsides to nearby creek lines, native grasslands and coastal environs (e.g. sand dunes). Feathertop Rhodes grass (Chloris virgata) is a particularly aggressive invader of bare areas and degraded or disturbed native vegetation, and can out-compete native species in these habitats.

Location

Location

Characteristics

Characteristics

Similar Species

Similar Species

Control Methods