Giant Parramatta grass
Sporobolous fertilis
family
Poaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Category 3 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)
Must not be distributed or disposed. This means it must not be released into the environment unless the distribution or disposal is authorised in a regulation or under a permit.
Common names
Giant Parramatta grass, Australian smutgrass, Bloomsbury grass, Smutgrass.
An upright and long-lived grass usually growing 70-160 cm tall and forming large tussocks. Its very long and narrow leaf blades (14-110 cm long and 1.5-5 mm wide) may be flat or somewhat rolled. Its seed-heads are very thin and elongated in appearance (15-50 cm long and 1-2 cm wide)they are spike-like with many short branches held closely to the stem, however the lowest branches may droop slightly open. Each of these seed-head branches bears numerous tiny flower spikelets (1.5-2 mm long).
Impact
Impact
Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) is regarded as an environmental weed Queensland and New South Wales, and was recently listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region.This species invades native grasslands, open woodlands, conservation reserves and wetland areas and when fully established it excludes native plants. Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) is one of the exotic perennial grass species whose invadion of native plant communities in New South Wales has been listed as a "key threatening process". It is also ranked among the top 50 environmental weeds in south-eastern Queensland and is thought to pose a significant threat to rangeland biodiversity in central and northern Queensland.Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) is of low palatability and reduces the productivity of agricultural land by completely displacing desirable pasture species. Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) can have other less obvious impacts, such as causing damage to asphalt on roadsides and tracks and decreasing the aesthetic appeal of infested areas. Large infestations may also affect fire intensity and/or frequency, particularly in winter and spring.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) is regarded as an environmental weed Queensland and New South Wales, and was recently listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region.This species invades native grasslands, open woodlands, conservation reserves and wetland areas and when fully established it excludes native plants. Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) is one of the exotic perennial grass species whose invadion of native plant communities in New South Wales has been listed as a "key threatening process". It is also ranked among the top 50 environmental weeds in south-eastern Queensland and is thought to pose a significant threat to rangeland biodiversity in central and northern Queensland.Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) is of low palatability and reduces the productivity of agricultural land by completely displacing desirable pasture species. Giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) can have other less obvious impacts, such as causing damage to asphalt on roadsides and tracks and decreasing the aesthetic appeal of infested areas. Large infestations may also affect fire intensity and/or frequency, particularly in winter and spring.
