Giant rats tail grass
Sporobolus pyramidalis
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
Rat's tail grass, Giant rat's tail grass, GRT, Parramatta grass, West Indies smutgrass, Whorled dropseed.
An upright and long-lived grass growing 90-200 cm tall and forming large tussocks. Its very long and narrow leaf blades (20-70 cm long and 3-10 mm wide) may be flat or somewhat rolled. Its elongated, pyramid-shaped, seed-heads (20-45 cm long and about 3 cm wide) have many short branchesthese seed-head branches are initially held closely to the stem, but as the seed-head opens they become stiffly spreading. Each of these branches bears numerous tiny flower spikelets (1.7-2.2 mm long).
Impact
Impact
This species invades native grasslands, open woodlands, conservation reserves and wetland areas. When fully established in an area, it can form a grass monoculture, excluding native plants and reducing biodiversity of native groundcover species. This can also have an impact on native herbivores, which find the plants unpalatable.Along with Sporobolus natalensis, this species is ranked among the top 25 environmental weeds in south-eastern Queensland. It is also thought to pose a significant threat to rangeland biodiversity in central and northern Queensland, and heavy infestations may also increase fire intensity in sensitive environmental areas. The Giant rat's tail grasses (Sporobolus natalensis and Sporobolus pyramidalis ) are already of concern in several conservation areas in Queensland.Giant rat's tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis) is a serious weed of pastures in the coastal districts of Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is of low palatability to livestock and can greatly reduce the productivity of agricultural land by completely displacing desirable pasture species. The economic costs incurred in managing this species with herbicides are also quite high, and heavily infested areas have reduced land values. Mature leaf blades and stems are tough for animals to graze, and have been known to loosen the teeth of cattle and horses.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
This species invades native grasslands, open woodlands, conservation reserves and wetland areas. When fully established in an area, it can form a grass monoculture, excluding native plants and reducing biodiversity of native groundcover species. This can also have an impact on native herbivores, which find the plants unpalatable.Along with Sporobolus natalensis, this species is ranked among the top 25 environmental weeds in south-eastern Queensland. It is also thought to pose a significant threat to rangeland biodiversity in central and northern Queensland, and heavy infestations may also increase fire intensity in sensitive environmental areas. The Giant rat's tail grasses (Sporobolus natalensis and Sporobolus pyramidalis ) are already of concern in several conservation areas in Queensland.Giant rat's tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis) is a serious weed of pastures in the coastal districts of Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is of low palatability to livestock and can greatly reduce the productivity of agricultural land by completely displacing desirable pasture species. The economic costs incurred in managing this species with herbicides are also quite high, and heavily infested areas have reduced land values. Mature leaf blades and stems are tough for animals to graze, and have been known to loosen the teeth of cattle and horses.
