COMMON GRASSES OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

By Mandy Bowman, Daryl King, Simon Reu & Rohan Fisher Land Resources Souther Region.
P.O. BOX 1512 Alice Springs NT 0871.

LAND & WATER RESOURCES Research & Development Corporation

COMMON GRASSES OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

COMMON NAMES
Aust Drop Seed...............4 Bandicoot grass...............4 Barley Mitchell Grass.......5 Birdwood Grass...............6 Bristle-brush Grass..........6 Brown Beetle Grass.........7 Buffel Grass.....................8 Bull Flinders Grass..........8 Button Grass...................9 Cane Grass......................9 Cotton Panic...................10 Creek windmill grass......11 Curly Windmill Grass......11 Desert Bluegrass...........12 Eight-day grass..............12 Feathertop wiregrass.....13 Five Minute Grass.........13 Hard Spinifex.................14 Kangaroo Grass............14 Kerosene Grass.............15 Lemon Scented Grass...15 Limestone Oat Grass.....16 Longawn Wanderrie.......17 Mountain Wanderrie...........17 Mulga Grass.......................18 Mulga Mitchell Grass..........18 Native Millet........................19 Neverfail.............................19 Northern Mulga Grass........20 Oat Grass...........................20 Oat Kangaroo Grass..........21 Queensland Bluegrass.......22 Red Flinders Grass............22 Ribbon Grass.....................23 Silky Browntop..................23 Soft or Gummy Spinnifex Grass.................24 Small Burrgrass..................24 Threeawn Wanderrie..........25 Umbrella Grass...................25 Weeping or Hoop Mitchell Grass.....................26 Windmill Grass...................26 Winged chloris....................27 Wiregrass or Speargrass....27 Wiregrass............................28 Woollybutt...........................28 Woollyoat Grass.................29

COMMON GRASSES OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

SCIENTIFIC NAMES
Aristida contorta.................17 Astrebla elymoides............25 Aristida holathera..............14 Aristida ineaquiglumis.......26 Aristida latifolia..................12 Astrebla pectinata...............4 Aristida strigosa.................27 Bothriochloa ewartiana......11 Cenchrus ciliaris..................7 Cenchrus setigerus.............5 Chrysopogon fallax............22 Chloris pectinata................25 Cymbopogon ambiguus.....14 Dactyloctenium radulans.....8 Digitaria brownii................. .9 Digitaria coenicola.............24 Dichanthium sericeum.......21 Diplachne fusca..................6 Enneapogon avenaceus....19 Enneapogon cylindricus....15 Enneapogon polyphllus.....28 Enteropogon acicularis......10 Enteropogon ramosus.......10 Eragrostis setifolia.............18 Eragrostis australasica......8 Eragrostis eriopoda..........27 Eriachne aristidea............24 Eriachne armitii................16 Eriachne mucronata.........16 Eulalia auea.....................22 Fimbristylis dichotoma......11 Iseilema vaginiflorum........21 Iseilema macratherum.......7 Monachather paradoxa......3 Oxychloris scariosa..........26 Panicum decompositum..18 Paraneurachne muelleri..19 Plagiosetum refractum......5 Themeda triandra............13 Themeda avenacea.........20 Thyridolepis mitchelliana..17 Tragus australianus.........23 Triodia pungens...............23 Trioia basedowii...............13 Tripogon loliiformis....... ...12 Sporobolus australasicus..3

COMMON NAME: Australasian or Australian Dropseed SCIENTIFIC NAME: Sporobolus australasicus HABITAT: Slender annual, 22-37cm high, occurs over a wide range of country, usually as a coloniser of denuded areas, grows on loam flats. VALUE: Low-moderate palatability, not very important due to short-lived habit.

COMMON NAME : Bandicoot Grass SCIENTIFIC : Monachather paradoxa HABITAT: 30-60 cm leafy perennial. Is most common on sandy red earths and clayey sands usually as a minor element with mulga, woolybutt and hard or feathertop spinifex. VALUE: Readily grazed; in dense stands it is most valued for providing a green shoot after winter rains, when only low quality herbage or moderately palatable top feed is available to

stock.
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COMMON NAME: Barley Mitchell SCIENTIFIC: Astrebla pectinata HABITAT: 30-120 cm perennial. Is found on the clay loams and heavy cracking clays of the mitchell grass plains north of the Macdonnell Ranges. Its distribution is sporadic and confined to gilgais and depressions of stony tablelands with texture contrast soils. Generally there is not an associated tree storey but in small parts it occurs under gidgee. VALUE: Though only moderately palatable when green and less so when dry, Barley Mitchell is a vigorous perennial that persists under adverse conditions such as heavy stocking and drought.

COMMON NAME: Birdwood Grass SCIENTIFIC: Cenchrus setigerus HABITAT: 5-80cm perennial. Introduced species with limited distribution grows in the same areas as Buffel grass, but has higher moisture requirement. It will respond to rain in any season provided there are no frosts. VALUE: It has a high feed value during the pre-flowering stage, but much lower during the dry season. Its very hardy nature makes it valuable in improving low rainfall natural grazing land.

COMMON NAME: Bristle-brush Grass SCIENTIFIC NAME: Plagiosetum refractum HABITAT: Tufty leafy annual, sometimes short-lived perennial 22-37cm high. Occurs sporadically on deep, sandy soils, known from creek banks and near water generally, particularly characteristic of sandhill communities. VALUE: Evidently not grazed.

COMMON NAME : Brown Beetle Grass SCIENTIFIC : Diplachne fusca HABITAT : Leafy biennial or perennial tussock grass, usually 2030cm high with strongly developed fibrous roots. Occurs in seasonally flooded depressions and swamps on sandy or clayey soil, but rarely red-earths. Often on the fringe of waterholes and streams and in gilgais. It is often seen colonising shallow depressions on scalded surfaces and clay pans. VALUE : It is a highly palatable soft leafy grass which is sought out by livestock. However, it rarely contributes significantly to pastures and makes up only a minor componant of the diet.

COMMON NAME: Buffel (West ern Australia) SCIENTIFIC: Cenchrus ciliaris HABITAT: 30-90 cm perennial. Introduced species found throughout the Alice Springs district spreading along roadsides and water courses. It prefers sandy loam and clay loam soils, in open woodlands and calcareous areas. Drought resistant and responds quickly to light falls of rain. VALUE: The palatability of Buffel depends on variety (Gayndah, USA, WA). The nutritive value of new growth is very good and even when dry it is moderately nutritious feed. COMMON NAME: Bull Flinders Grass SCIENTIFIC: Iseilema macratherum HABITAT: Fairly erect densely tufted leafy annual up to 90cm high. Restricted to northern area. Usually on cracking clay soils and medium-textured red earths. VALUE: Generally regarded in other areas to be less valuable than red Flinders, but apparently not so in Central Australia. Palatable to stock when sufficient bulk has grown, generally not grazed when young.

COMMON NAME : Button Grass SCIENTIFIC : Dactyloctenium radulans HABITAT : Semi-erect ephemeral 1530cm high. Gently undulating country on saline, calcareous, and alluvial soils of medium to fine texture, and to a lesser extent on coarse sands and cracking clays. Associated with mulga, coolibah, salt-bush, ironwood and less commonly with gidgee and tea-tree. VALUE : Highly palatable and nutritious. It commonly increases under heavy stocking and sometimes indicates overgrazing and disturbance. On occasions it is known to be toxic to cattle in poor condition. COMMON NAME: Cane grass SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eragrostis australasica HABITAT: Stout shrubby perennial 1-3m high, generally found in southern area, grows in low lying areas subject to intermittent flooding eg. swamps, tabledrains and claypans, particularly suited to slightly saline, compact, heavy clay soils where water is ponded for several months. VALUE: Generally considered to have little or no forage value,. cattle may utilise young plants.

COMMON NAME : Cotton Panic SCIENTIFIC : Digitaria brownii HABITAT : 30-45cm perennial : It occurs on medium-textured red earths and shallow soils, equally as common in upland and lowland areas. Usually in association with mulga, sparse low trees and shrubs. VALUE : One of the more valuable pasture perennials, since the relatively soft foliage and slender stems are highly palatable to stock.

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COMMON NAME : Creek Windmill Grass SCIENTIFIC : Enteropogon ramosus HABITAT : 70-110cm perennial : Found mainly in drainage lines and river floodplains. Associated with ironwood, coolibah and river gums. VALUE : Moderately palatable when young, but becomes coarse and unpalatable with age. Less palatable than curly windmill grass. IDENTIFICATION NOTES : Seed head has less than 5 branches. Tends to grow tall and rank. COMMON NAME : Curly Windmill Grass SCIENTIFIC : Enteropogon acicularis HABITAT : 45-80cm perennial : Found on alluvial fans, minor occurrences on calcareous soils under gidgee, shallow soils on hill slopes, saline soils with saltbush and bluebush and on margins of claypans. Is found more often on medium - fine-textured than coarse soils and is associated with mulga, ironwood and coolibah. VALUE : Highly palatable when young, and moderately palatable when dry. IDENTIFICATION NOTES : Seed head usually has 7 or more branches and the plant is smaller than creek windmill.
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COMMON NAME : Desert Bluegrass SCIENTIFIC : Bothriochloa ewartiana HABITAT : Perennial 60-90cm in height. Grows on medium-textured red earths, on river banks, drainage floors, valley slopes in association with mulga, coolibah, on shallow soils on low stony hills with witchetty bush or sparse low trees and shrubs. VALUE : Its utilisation is normally restricted to short periods during early growth when foliage is moderately palatable.

COMMON NAME : Eight Day Grass SCIENTIFIC : Fimbristylis dichotoma HABITAT : Erect perennial 15-55cm high. Usually on sandy or loamy soils of sandplains, undulating land and rocky hillsides, also along river channel margins on heavy clay soils and on sandy soils in creek channels. VALUE : Is very palatable to stock. Its nutritive value is good when plants are green, but dry plants are poor quality feed.

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COMMON NAME: Feathertop Wiregrass SCIENTIFIC: Aristida latifolia HABITAT: Tussock forming 60 cm perennial. Largely confined to cracking clay soils and is almost always associated with barley mitchell and neverfail grasslands or gidgee. Less commonly on saltbush-bluebush country and on river floodplains on alluvial soils. VALUE: Feathertop is generally ignored in favour of more palatable grasses with which it is commonly associated.

COMMON NAME : Five Minute Grass SCIENTIFIC : Tripogon loliiformis HABITAT : Up to 15cm annual : It is most extensive on stony tablelands and in alluvial areas such as river floodplains, on mainly medium - fine-textured and deep but include sandy red earths and shallow soils. Under an open cover of mulga, coolibah, witchetty, gidgee, ironwood and corkwood. VALUE : In association with other low short-lived grasses it produces palatable and nutritious pastures, which in some parts are highly valued as stock fattening grass.
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COMMON NAME: Hard Spinifex SCIENTIFIC NAME: Triodia Basedowii HABITAT: Perennial hummockforming grass, thin rigid leaves with a very sharp point. Hummocks may be up to 50cm high and 2 metres in diameter sometimes with a dead centre. Seedhead goes 30-50cm above leaves. Grows on sandy red soils and bases of sand dunes. VALUE: Little grazing value due to tough prickly leaves. Seed heads relished by stock and grain is of good feed value. This plant is a useful, drought resistant soil stabilizer in sandy arid regions, but does not colonise shifting dune crests. After burning stock has green pick for a short time. Annual plants may grow for a short time in between hummocks after a rain, but few perennial grasses can co-exist with it.

COMMON NAME : Kangaroo Grass SCIENTIFIC : Themeda triandra HABITAT : 60-90cm perennial : It occurs on gently sloping valley floors on medium-textured red earth soils and common on low hills and near creeks. Associated with mulga, coolibah, red river gums and spinifex. VALUE : Not of marked value in pastures, though undoubtedly palatable during the growing period, mature plants are normally neglected.
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COMMON NAME : Kerosene Grass SCIENTIFIC : Aristida holathera HABITAT : Annual or short-lived perennial 30-60cm high. Sometimes predominant over fairly large areas of coarse sandy soils on river banks, frontages, floodouts and sand dunes. Associated with mulga, ironwood, corkwood, witchetty, gidgee and coolibah. VALUE : Except when young it is normally neglected by stock.

COMMON NAME : Lemon Sented SCIENTIFIC : Cymbopogon ambiguus

Grass

HABITAT : Up to 70cm perennial : Grows on rocky hills, exposed granite and on roadsides which have shallow loam or clayey soils. It also grows along creek banks in stony uplands. VALUE : It is rarely eaten by stock.

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COMMON NAME: Limestone Oat Grass (Jointed Nineawn) SCIENTIFIC NAME: Enneapogon cylindricus HABITAT: 15-22cm high perennial: Commonly associated with, though not confined to calcareous rocks and soils. The species is distributed throughout the area, occurring sparsely or as a local dominant usually on shallow soils in gently undulating or low hilly country. Associated with sparse low trees, gidgea and witchetty bush. VALUE: Plants are unpalatable to stock. It tends to increase in abundance on calcareous soils in response to prolonged grazing.

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COMMON NAME : Longawn Wanderrie SCIENTIFIC : Eriachne armitii HABITAT : Annual or short-lived perennial 15-47cm high. Occurring mainly on broad, shallow, periodically flooded flats, on medium-textured red and yellow earths. In association with mulga, snappy gum, and gidgee. Plants grow in summer months sometimes producing dense localised stands. VALUE : Probably grazed.

COMMON NAME : Mountain Wanderrie SCIENTIFIC : Eriachne mucronata HABITAT : 30-45cm perennial : Growing on shallow and skeletal, sometimes saline soils irrespective of parent rock. Usually associated with witchetty bush, mulga, low trees and shrubs. VALUE : Virtually worthless as pasture being unpalatable or inaccessible to stock.

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COMMON NAME : Mulga Grass SCIENTIFIC : Aristida contorta HABITAT : Up to 30cm Semi-erect drooping annual or short-lived perennial. Predominant on alluvial, red-earth and sandy soils. Dominates grasslands and parklands, particularly extensive on floodplains, river frontages and sandplains. Associated with mulga, ironwood, corkwood, witchetty, gidgee and coolibah. VALUE : Generally regarded as useful at all stages of growth. Most valuable when young. On ripening spear-like floreats harden and can be harmful to grazing animals, however are known to be grazed after having fallen to the ground. COMMON NAME: Mulga Mitchell Grass SCIENTIFIC NAME: Thyridolepis mitchelliana HABITAT: 20-30cm high tufted perennial. Often on red earth soils, on sandplains, stony ridges and in mulga communities. Sometimes the dominant grass on hilly areas but on red soil flats and ridges it is usually associated with wiregrass (Aristida spp). VALUE: Very palatable: withstands grazing moderately well but can be removed by prolonged heavy grazing.

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COMMON NAME : Native Millet SCIENTIFIC : Panicum decompositum HABITAT : 45-105cm high perennial. Occurring most commonly on the banks and floodouts of streams and in valley floors with alluvial soils. Associated with mulga, coolibah, river red gums, gidgee and witchetty bush. VALUE : The herbaceous stems and abundant foliage provide palatable fodder. Because of preferential grazing, plants rarely survive in areas of high stock concentration.

COMMON NAME : Never Fail SCIENTIFIC : Eragrostis setifolia HABITAT : Tufted perennial 22-45cm high and 15cm wide. Widespread on cracking clay and fine alluvial soils. It is commonly associated with Mitchell grasses, coolibah and Queensland bluebush, but also occurs with mulga, gidgee and cotton-bush. Occurrences are usually sporadic and confined to gilgais and similar depressions. VALUE : Only moderately palatable, however it tends to remain green for long periods and is grazed in preference to many perennials after more palatable, short-lived plants are gone.
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COMMON NAME: Northern Mulga Grass SCIENTIFIC NAME: Paraneurachne muelleri HABITAT: Wiry, coarse perennial, 30-45cm high, stems often trailing for several feet and rooting from nodes. Grows in sand or loam with spinifex, also in gently undulating or flat country on shallow, often gritty or gravelly soils in association with scattered low trees and shrubs (snappy gum, bloodwoods, mallees and native fuchsia and on red and yellow earths of medium texture under mulga. VALUE: Not particularly valuable, young plants are moderately palatable.

COMMON NAME : Oat Grass SCIENTIFIC : Enneapogon avenaceus HABITAT : 15-30cm annual or shortlived perennial, best developed on calcareous and alluvial soils in the form of grasslands or in association with gidgee, witchetty, ironwood, coolibah, bluebush and saltbush. VALUE : Is very palatable and is good quality feed when plants are green.

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COMMON NAME: Oat Kangaroo Grass SCIENTIFIC NAME: Themeda avenacea HABITAT: Tufted perennial, leaves concentrated at base 10-20cm, tops may be 70-120cm above ground. May occur on all soil types except very deep sands, more common in wetter sites, gilgais or roadsides or in sites protected from grazing but regularly burnt. VALUE: Very palatable grass easily grazed out by continuous stocking. Feed value not high.

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COMMON NAME : Queensland Blue Grass SCIENTIFIC : Dichanthium sericeum HABITAT : Tufted, slender perennial about 60cm high. Associated with floodouts, drainage floors, with soils of medium or fine texture, and cracking clays; with grassland plains of neverfail and mitchell grass; with coolibah, river red gums, ghost gums, mulga and gidgee. Usually the best developed stands are localised in gilgais and small depressions. It has a high moisture requirement. VALUE : Moderately palatable when green, but is largely ignored by stock with the onset of flowering. It is generally regarded as an indicator of country in good condition.

COMMON NAME: Red Flinders Grass SCIENTIFIC: Iseilema vaginiflorum HABITAT: Leafy spreading straggly tufts sometime long lived annual, grows 4560cm confined to medium textured red earths and cracking clay soils, ussually aluvial in origin. Commonly localised to drainage lines and other depressions, occus in association with Mitchell grasses, gidgee, coolibah or saltbush and blue bush. Most common widely distributed of Cental Australian species. VALUE: Valuable partially due to its commoness, but not always palatable when coarse and dry.
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COMMON NAME: Ribbon Grass or Golden Beard Grass SCIENTIFIC: Chrysopogon fallax HABITAT: 90-135 cm strong tussock-forming perennial. Found mainly on medium or fine textured soils. It is a characteristic plant of floodplains, creek banks, river levees and floodouts, depressions, and gentle alluvial slopes receiving runoff from adjacent hills. Commonly associated with short annual grasses and forbs, coolibah, river red gums, mulga, ghost gum and to a lesser extent bloodwood, snappy gum and gidgee. VALUE: Plants are moderately palatable and is reasonable quality feed when green.

COMMON NAME : Silky Browntop SCIENTIFIC : Eulalia aurea HABITAT : 60-90cm Perennial : Grows on medium-textured red-earth and calcareous soils and clayey sands. In floodplains, drainage lines, shallow depressions and valley floors. Associated with mulga, coolibah, bloodwood and red river gums. VALUE : New growth readily grazed but with maturity plants become rank and unattractive to stock.
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COMMON NAME: Soft Spinifex or Gummy Spinifex SCIENTIFIC NAME: Triodia pungens HABITAT: Tussocks straggly and irregular 23-90cm high, 15-150cm wide, flowering stems usually 60-90cm high. Occurs on plains and rocky hills, often mixed with other spinifex. Soils commonly shallow or skeletal; but include deep, clayey sands and red earths of coarse or medium texture. Associated with a variety of low trees and shrubs, (snappy gum, witchetty bush, mulga, mallees, coolibah, bloodwood, wattles, turkey bush and native fuchsia. VALUE: Softer and generally more palatable than many spinifexes. Commonly utilised as a drought reserve

COMMON NAME: Small Burrgrass SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tragus australianus HABITAT: Very small, tufted annual, usually 20.30cm. Prefers sandier soils but may be found on other soil types. Usually occurs on sparsely vegetated or disturbed areas especially when overgrazed or following a drought. VALUE: Leaf is palatable but yield is negligible. Resistant to heavy grazing.
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COMMON NAME: Threeawn Wanderrie SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eriachne aristidea HABITAT: Loosely tufted perennial 2040cm high common on loose sandy soils in asociation with mulga and cypress pine. VALUE: Not very palatable, a useful stabiliser of loose, sandy

COMMON NAME : Umbrella Grass SCIENTIFIC : Digitaria coenicola HABITAT : 30-45cm perennial : Sandy and medium-textured red earths with mulga, alluvial soils carrying coolibah and ironwood, shallow soils with low trees and shrubs, calcareous and saline soils with gidgee, saltbush, bluebush. VALUE : A highly palatable plant, grazed in preference to many perennial grasses.
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COMMON NAME: Hoop or Weeping Mitchell Grass SCIENTIFIC NAME: Astrebla elymoides HABITAT: Tufted perennial up to 50cm high occurs on cracking, grey and brown clay soils, usually in association with other Mitchell grasses. Tends to be more common in wetter or heavily grazed areas. VALUE: Moderately palatable, not as highly regarded as curly or barley Mitchell grass, no undesirable features.

COMMON NAME : Windmill grass . SCIENTIFIC : Chloris pectinata HABITAT : Shallow rooted annual or biennial grass, forming small tufts 20-30cm tall, but usually less than 22cm. Associated with shallow depressions, gilgais or any low points subject to seasonal flooding, usually on heavy soils. It may form dense stands during favourable conditions, but its shallow roots and rapid maturation usually see it dissappear with the onset of drier conditions. VALUE : It is moderately palatable, but due to its generally short lived nature is not an important componant of the pasture.
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COMMON NAME : Wing Chloris SCIENTIFIC : Oxychloris scariosa HABITAT : Densely tufted annual or short-lived perennial 22-30cm high. Often occurs in saline areas, mainly on texture-contrast soils with saltbush. There are occurrences on red-earth soils under mulga, on low rocky hills, creek banks and on heavy soils under gidgee. VALUE : Plants appear not to be grazed to any extent.

COMMON NAME : Wiregrass or Speargrass SCIENTIFIC : Aristida inaequiglumis HABITAT : Robust long-lived perennial 45-90cm high. Associated with short annual grasses on alluvial soils, with mulga on red earths and with hard spinifex on sandy soils. Also under coolibah and corkwood on floodplains, under ghost gums and bloodwood on river frontages and levees. VALUE : Though ample foliage is produced, it is almost completely ignored by stock.
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COMMON NAME : Wiregrass SCIENTIFIC : Aristida strigosa HABITAT : Fairly coarse perennial 4590cm high. Usually common on low rocky hills and plateaux. Grows on shallow soils, often in erosion gullies and similar habitats, sometimes densely enough to be locally dominant. VALUE : Not grazed.

COMMON NAME : Woollybutt SCIENTIFIC : Eragrostis eriopoda HABITAT : Tussock forming perennial 30-60cm high, 15-22cm wide. Occurring most extensively as a local dominant of spinifex sand plains on red clayey sands. Also occurs under mulga on coarse to medium textured red earths: on river floodplains, ironwood, corkwood, and on limestone slopes and rises on shallow, sandy soils under witchetty bush and gidgee. VALUE : Moderately palatable and normally grazing is restricted to new growth. However in high stock concentration, e.g. holding paddocks, it survives consistent stocking and provides some forage after less hardy plants are destroyed.
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COMMON NAME : Woolly Oat Grass SCIENTIFIC : Enneapogon polyphyllus HABITAT : 22-45cm short-lived annual or perennial : Grows on flat or hilly country on deep or shallow sandy or clayey soils but best developed on alluvial or river floodplains with mulga, gidgee, coolibah, bloodwood, corkwood, desert oak, ironwood, witchetty, bluebush, saltbush, spinifex and mitchell grass. VALUE : Readily grazed at all stages of growth, highly regarded as valuable fodder. In early stages dominant pastures are sufficiently nutritious to fatten stock, but are relatively shortlived.

References:
M.Lazarides. (1970) The Grasses of Central Australia. A.N.U. Press,Canberra. A.A.Mitchell, D.G. Wilcox, (1988) Arid Shrubland Plants of Western Australia. U.W.A. Press. Nedlands, Western Australia. G.M.Cunningham, W.E.Mulham, P.L.Milthorpe and J.H.Leigh. (1981) Plants of Western New South Wales. N.S.W.Government Printing Office. The Australian Systematic Botany Society, J.Jessop (ed) (1981), Flora of Central Australia. A.N.U. Press, Canberra. R.J.Petheram, B.Kok, (1983), Plants of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. U.W.A. Press. Nedlands, Western Australia. B.R.Roberts, R.G.Silcock,(1982), Western Grasses, A Grazier's Guide to the Grasses of South West QueenslandUniversity of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba Qld.
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