Grasses and Sedges - Hornsby Shire Council

GRASSES
& SEDGES
A plant that usually consists of a tuft of
leaves arising from a stem that elongates
at flowering time
Sedge: A grass-like plant with a triangular
stem often growing in wet areas.

BASKET GRASS and TAHITIAN BRIDAL VEIL
NATIVE: Basket Grass (Oplismenus
imbecillis/ aemulus) is a creeping grass in
the Poaceae family that is found in the
Eastern and Northern States of Australia.
It has low growing sprawling stems, with
1cm wide leaves. It grows in moist areas
to shady areas and can sometimes be
found in full shade. The leaves have wavy
margins and fine hairs. The two species
differ as O.imbecillis has more slender
leaves. The small red flowers appear in
summer to Autumn on short erect stems.
This grass is very hardy and has an
ornamental quality about it. It makes a
great native lawn that can look very neat
when mowed.
WEED: Tahitian Bridal Veil (Tradescantia
multiflora) is a ground herb in the family
Commelinaceae. This herb has tiny leaves
and wiry stems. It looks and grows very
much like a smaller version of the native
Commelina. This weed is more a garden
escape as it is mostly planted in gardens or
used in hanging pots. It has small white
flowers, which produce a fine “veil”. Tahitian
Bridal Veil is hairless, and has shiny leaves.
While this plant is not “invasive” it can be
mistaken for a native. Other species which
are very similar are Gibasis geniculata and
Gibasis pellucida.
WEED REMOVAL
Tahitian Bridal Veil can be removed by hand. Nodes left in the ground will resprout,
but careful attention while weeding could soon remove this semi invasive
plant.
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HEDGEHOG GRASS and PIGEON GRASS
WEED: Pigeon grass (Setaria sp.) is an annual or perennial
grass also in the Poaceae Family.
This grass can be found in disturbed sunny positions, along
roadsides and along disturbed bushland edges. The leaf
blade is often rolled or folded, and the leaf base can often
be red. Sometimes this leaf base will break off where it
meets the roots. This plant can also spread via rhizomes,
in this form it can often dieback in winter. The flower is a
terminal panicle which is narrow, dense and spike like to
around 3-5cm in length. Setaria grasses are characterised
by their stiff bristled seed head. Pigeon grass has quite
large rounded seed that will drop off and the bristles remain.
The seed on pigeon grass ripen late Spring to Summer.
This grass is spread by wind, mud, animals and in feed. It
germinates very easily, so needs careful treatment.
NATIVE: Hedgehog grass, Echinopogon
ovatus is a native grass in the Poaceae
family. It grows on rich soils in sunny or
shady positions. The grass is
distinguishable by the small ovoid shaped
seed head, looking like a small brush.
When it is not in seed though, the grass is
fairly easily identified at 60-100 cm tall,
tufted with curled leaves around the base.
The leaves are bright green and slightly
hairy, short and membranous. The grass
is rough when touched with a downward
action and feels like it is sticking to you.
The seed head is 5mm long and ovate
and seed spreads via attachment to fur or
clothing.
WEED REMOVAL
Pigeon grass can be removed by hand weeding using
crowning to ensure the removal of the whole plant. This should be
done before the plant seeds (before spring). Unfortunately it is also an important food
source for a variety of birds including quails, lapwings, choughs, scrub-wrens and
finches.
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BARBED WIRE GRASS and WHISKY GRASS
NATIVE: Barbed-wire grass Cymbopogon
refractus is a tufted grass with tall wiry
stems. It can be found in woodland areas
on sandstone and other rocky areas. This
grass is found in most parts of NSW, Qld,
Vic and NT. Its inflorescence (shown left)
resembles the barbs of barbed-wire. This
is due to the racemes which point
downwards on maturity. It also has an
aromatic smell when
crushed and it is
Themeda
interesting to know that
the commonly used
cooking herb, Lemon
Grass Cymbopogon
citrinus and other
Cymbopogons have a
lemon scent to them.
WEED: Whisky Grass or Andropogon virginicus is a weed grass that is native to America.
Whisky grass is seen to invade very open sunny areas, roadsides, fire-trails, fields and
other disturbed areas. It is common to Hawkesbury sandstone and other low nutrient soils.
Whisky grass can be very invasive, and produces wind
dispersed seed which can lie dormant in the soil
throughout the winter. Whisky Grass can also look like
the native Kangaroo grass Themeda australis (pictured
above)
WEED REMOVAL
The weed Whisky Grass can be removed by
crowning but it is important to remove this grass
before it sets seed in spring. If the grass has fluffy
seed in the tops these should be cut off, placed in
bags and disposed.
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POA AFFINIS and AFRICAN LOVE GRASS
NATIVE: Poa affinis is a native grass
found in Sydney and in the Blue
Mountains. It grows in the understorey of
woodlands and forests primarily on
sandstone soils. Poa affinis is
widespread in the Hornsby district. This
grass is loosely tufted with branched
stems. It has soft light green leaves and
a small blunt and membranous ligule.
The inflorescence of Poa is a spreading
open seed head with blue green
spikelets made up of 2-4 florets. Poa
flowers in late spring and can range from
60 to 1.2m in height.
WEED: African Lovegrass, Eragrostis
curvula is a weed from South Africa. It is
a robust, densely tufted perennial grass
that grows particularly well along
roadsides, railways, riverbanks and
wastelands. It is very invasive and is
also very hardy, growing from 1-2m in
height. The stems are long with green to
blue leaf blades. These are rough to
touch and often arch and curl up to the
tip (hence “curvula”). The ligule has an
inconspicuous ring of hairs enclosed by
auricles (collar). The flower is quite
similar to the Poa, but the Lovegrass
has a dark olive-green spikelet
consisting of 3-18 florets. Seeds are
often subject to a black rust, unlike Poa.
WEED REMOVAL
African Lovegrass can be hand pulled when young, but as it has a matted root
system often a mattock or lever should be used. Spraying with 1:100 glyphosate
can also be used with varying results. As the native and weed look so similar,
check for the spikelet colour and the distinctive curling of leaf blades on the weed.
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WEEPING MEADOW GRASS and PANIC VELDTGRASS
NATIVE: Weeping Meadow grass (Microlaena stipoides)
grows widespread on sandstone and clay soils across
Australia except N.T. It is a slender erect grass 15-70 cm
high with a variety of forms but all with the same distinctive
weeping seed head. Each seed has a spike attached to it
that helps its distribution by getting caught on socks,
clothes, fur and feathers of all moving creatures. This grass
often has a bluish green tinge to its leaves which are short,
flat and thin growing from tufts. The leaves can be smooth or
sometimes hairy and the leaf tip has a small indent which is
a good indication that it is the native! Microlaena can also
form clumped runners that are easily seen if it is accidentally
pulled out.
SEED HEADS:
Microlaena (left) and
Ehrharta (right) have
very different seed heads. The
inset (far left) shows the
Microlaena seed.
WEED: Panic Veldtgrass often known as Ehrharta (pronounced airheart-a)
(Ehrharta erecta) is originally from South Africa and is a
widespread weed. It tends to grow in sunny positions particularly in
disturbed zones and can grow up to 60cm, although usually
remains about 30cm tall. It spreads out from the root base allowing
the seed heads to colonise new soil. It has much brighter green
leaves bordering on a green yellow in some situations. The leaves
are generally wider than Microlaena and at the margin between the
leaf sheath and the leaf blade there is a ligule (bit that sticks out),
which is not present in Microlaena. Its seed head is more erect than
Microlaena and has no form of seed attachment.
WEED REMOVAL
Ehrharta can be removed by hand or sprayed with 1:100
glyphosate. It is important to try to prevent it from seeding as
it seeds prolifically and often especially in exposed areas.
When removing Ehrharta that is seeding remember to bag it
for disposal or compost it.
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SPINY HEADED MAT RUSH and WILD IRIS
NATIVE: Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia) is a grass-like herb in the
Lomandraceae family. It grows as a tufted herb with wide strap like leaves
usually around 50 cm long. It is fairly common and grows in a wide range of
habitats. Its flower spike is a prickly branched inflorescence. Its seeds are like
wheat grains and easy to propagate. A distinguishing feature, other than its strap
like leaves, are its leaf tip. This has a prominent tooth or serration that is
common to many Lomandra species. Lomandra is
commonly used in roadside plantings around
Sydney.
WEED: The Wild Iris (Dietes grandiflora) is often
confused with Lomandra due to its long strappy leaves of
the same length. It also grows as a tufted herb, but is
actually from South Africa, and is in the Iridaceae family.
This is not a very invasive plant and it most commonly
has beautiful iris like flowers of white petals with purple
and orange markings. Its seed head is very different to
the Mat Rush (pictured). The leaves are more shiny and
slightly thinner to the Lomandra with a pointed tip on it
with no serration. Other forms of Dietes have different
colour flowers such as the yellow (shown) and blue.
WEED REMOVAL
The Dietes is fairly easy to remove. Pull out any
smaller Dietes by hand (check the tip if unsure…no
tooth, flat base and it is the weed) and any larger
clumps can be dug out with a mattock. If this weed is
not spreading vigorously and is providing habitat for
small birds or lizards alternative control might be to
simply collect and bag its seed head after it flowers.
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BARBED WIRE GRASS and COOLATAI GRASS
NATIVE: Barbed-wire grass
Cymbopogon refractus is a tufted
grass with tall wiry stems. It can be
found in woodland areas on
sandstone and other rocky areas.
This grass is found in most parts of
NSW, Qld, Vic and NT. Its
inflorescence (shown left)
resembles the barbs of barbedwire.
This is due to the racemes
which point downwards on
maturity. It also has an aromatic
smell when crushed and it is
interesting to know that the
commonly used cooking herb,
Lemon Grass Cymbopogon
citrinus and other Cymbopogons
have a lemon scent to them.
WEED: Coolatai Grass or Hyparrhenia hirta is a
weed grass from Africa and the Mediterranean.
It is a weed that can be found in Hornsby Shire,
along the northern NSW coast and Western
Australia and grows along roadsides and in
pastures. Also known as Tambookie Grass, this
weed grows to 120cm tall and has tall seed
heads with long spikelets (2-4mm) that are a
rusty brown colour. It is very difficult to
distinguish from the native grass except that it
has no distinct smell when crushed and the
spikelets are often paired.
WEED REMOVAL
Coolatai Grass can be hand removed using a mattock.
Ensure all seed heads are bagged and disposed.
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SAW SEDGE and PAMPAS GRASS
NATIVE: The Saw Sedge (Gahnia sp.) is a native sedge found in a wide range of areas.
Some species grow on creek edges, in swamp
pockets of forests and some prefer salty soils.
This genus is in the Cyperaceae family and
grows to 2.5 metres with high flowering spikes
that produce small nuts (1.5-5.5mm) which are
red/ brown. It flowers between spring and
summer, but the flowers are insignificant. The
leaves are glossy green, linear to
drooping and have small serrations
along them as described in their name.
The Gahnias can often be confused
with Pampas Grass, however some
noticeable differences set them apart.
WEED: Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) is in
the Poaceae (grass) Family and was introduced as
a garden plant from South America. It is a dense
tussocky perennial grass that can grow up to 3
metres. It has a flower spike up to 4 m high. This
flower spike has a large silky plume up to one
metre long, which flowers in summer and produces
loads of seed. Also the leaves, like the Gahnia,
have silica serrations which are bluish green in
colour. Often the leaves die off and curl around the
base looking like wood shavings. The Pampas is
often found in drainage lines, waste areas and
disturbed zones. It is at present considered a
noxious weed due to its size and rapid distribution
through natural areas.
Picture by Paul Marynissen.
WEED REMOVAL
Pampas Grass can be hand pulled as a seedling but as an adult, especially over 3m tall,
requires other removal methods. It can be sprayed (although it can reshoot), or cut at
the base and the base sprayed with 1:100 glyphosate. All seed heads should be
removed and bagged for disposal. Safety must also be considered when removing this
weed. The silica in the serrated edges can cut deep: gloves and goggles must be worn
for protection. Long sleeves and long trousers are also highly recommended. When
cutting pampas, the silica can form a dust. A dust mask is useful to protect from
inhalation and accidental ingestion.
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BLUE FLAX LILY and SPIDER PLANT
NATIVE: The Blue Flax Lily (Dianella
caerulea) is a native tufted herb to 50 cm tall
in the Liliaceae family found in woodland
and sandstone plant communities. It prefers
fertile soils in well shaded areas. This native
lily has dark green strapped leaves which
have small serrations up each edge (see
inset).These can be felt more than seen.
The leaves are sheathed at the base and
attached to a small stalk. Dianella flowers in
spring and has a long flower spike with
small blue flowers which turn into purpleblue
berries. These are edible when ripe
(purple). The flowers and fruit are also often
deformed by thrips. Flower scans: Jenifer Lewis,
Hornsby Online Herbarium:
WEED: Spider Plant (Chlorophytum
comosum) is a weed from South Africa which
is also in the Liliaceae family. It can grow in a
variety of conditions and spreads by seed and
by vegetative parts. It flowers in summer and
has small white flowers on its stalks and
produces an angular seed capsule. Some
varieties of Spider Plant are variegated (have
white stripes up the leaves) or have pale
green leaves. The leaves are thick and the
roots are bulbous and used to store water. It
has no serrations on its leaf edge, and the
leaves can often elongate to produce a new
plant from the tip (plantlet) that will root and
detach from the original adult plant.
WEED REMOVAL
The weed Spider Plant can be dug out with a mattock and left to dry out. Also be aware
that after removal, especially of a large patch, dense germination of the weed can occur.
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SPINY HEADED MAT RUSH and LOMANDRA
HYSTRIX
NATIVE: The Spiny Headed Mat-Rush or Lomandra
longifolia, a native Lomandra to the Hornsby area grows
from 50-100cm tall. It has 5-7.5mm wide leaf blades, which
are distinguishable by their hairless, conspicuous marginal
sclerenchyma bands. The inflorescence of L.longifolia
stands shorter than the leaf blades reaching maximum
15cm long. The flower clusters are whorled up the
inflorescence and appear yellow or cream. The
inflorescence is multi branched, truncate and clustered.
Lomandra have male and female plants distinguished by
their flowers. The male flowers are shorter at 3.5mm,
where the female are around 4.5mm long (see picture).
The leaf apex or tip of this native is 2 or 3 toothed, with
the central tooth pronounced. There are a few different
forms of the teeth (shown) and
these are generally orange
brown or reddish brown. Lomandra
longifolia flowers in spring only.
Lomandra longifolia has relatively thick
leaf blades, and aborigines used them to
weave baskets. The white base of the
leaf was also eaten.
WEED: Lomandra hystrix is native to Australia, but only found
north from Taree into Queensland. This plant has made its way
into more Southern areas due to the commercialisation as a
hardy garden plant. L.hystrix grows from 90 to 150cm tall. The
leaf blades are quite thin, a brighter green, flat and wide with a
toothed tip. The tooth is acutely pointed and mostly white in
colour (occasionally brown to reddish brown). The male and
female flowers are very similar and both inflorescences will
grow as tall as the leaf blades. The inflorescence is branched
only twice and is flattened with whorled flower clusters. Male
and female flower sizes are the same as Lomandra longifolia
and are also yellow or cream. L.hystrix flowers in spring and
summer. The leaves lack conspicuous sclerenchyma marginal
bands on the leaves, and have a different tip shape. Lomandra
hystrix does not seed as readily as Lomandra longifolia.
WEED REMOVAL
The weed Lomandra can be removed by hand pulling when young or by
mattocking out when large.
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SEA RUSH and SPINY RUSH
NATIVE: The native sedge Sea Rush (Juncus kraussii) is in the Family Juncaceae and
is found growing in brackish waters/ coastal areas. It looks similar to the Common Rush
(Juncus usitatus) that grows in creeklines and fresh water/moist areas.
WEED: Juncus acutus is a weed
originating from Europe, Africa and North
America, as the name suggests is a very
spiky sedge that also grows along brackish
or coastal areas, and is easily distinguished
by its extremely sharp spiny leaf tips.
Also in the Family Juncaceae, Spiny rush
has a characteristic globe shape to it, and
can grow up to 1.6 m tall. It has invaded
many significant wetland/salt marsh areas,
and is particularly difficult to remove,
because of its spiny nature, and the
locations it inhabits.
The Sea Rush has more open
stems, and often appears
brown due to the dying leaves
within its tufts. It grows
between 50-100 cm tall, and
has a tall and open
appearance.
WEED REMOVAL
Juncus acutus is a difficult weed to control, it can be hand mattocked out, but
great care should be taken to avoid injury from the spiny tips. This is also time
consuming, and alternative removal can be slashing and then respraying new
growth (when tides are low to avoid water contamination). It is preferable to spray
with Glyphosate during warmer months.
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SALTWATER COUCH and COMMON COUCH
often are found quite deep in the soil,
so is difficult to remove simply by
hand, without a lot of disturbance to
other natives or the soil itself.
Common Couch has an awned seed
head, and the leaves are a lot shorter
than the Saltwater Couch. Common
Couch grows readily from seed and
runners/dumped plant parts, as it roots
readily from the stems.
Photos : www.thebegavalley.org.au
NATIVE: In the Family Poaceae, the Saltwater couch
(pronounced “kooch”) Sporobolous virginicus, is a
native creeping grass that grows in coastal areas, often
in thickets. It spreads using underground runners and
by seed. The leaves are erect and greyish green in
colour. The grass blades can reach up to 50 cm tall and
it often grows in sandy soils.
This grass is a perennial, and is often confused with the
Common Couch
WEED: Common Couch (Cynodon dactylon) is a
weedy grass that can be found in all areas of
disturbed soils, where there has been dumpings and
often is used for lawns in common gardens. It is
native to some areas of Australia and Tropical Africa.
Common Couch also grows along runners, which
WEED REMOVAL
As mentioned Common Couch can be difficult to remove once it is established. If
it has been recently dumped, you may be able to collect the soil and other waste
containing couch, and dispose of it at the tip or green waste bin (if it does not
contain soil). Spraying with Glyphosate can be effective, but it can come back
quite easily. Couch can be important habitat for a range of lizards and frogs, so
often preventing it from spreading into good bush can be just as effective as
attempting complete removal.
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