Tall Spear Grass Austrostipa rudis Silver Top Wallaby Grass Joycea pallida Spiny-headed Mat Rush Lomandra longifolia Common Tussock Grass Poa labillardieri Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra
Austrostipa rudis
Tall Spear Grass
This perennial grass forms tufts in well-drained, semi-sun positions, particularly on either side of the road cutting. Dull green leaves grow up to 40cm. high. These are erect and inrolled with a slightly rough feel to the outside. From September to January, loose, spreading flower heads of up to 40cm. long and 15-40mm. wide are carried on segmented stems up to 1.2m. high. Spear grass is characterised by the long “tail” or awn that is attached to the seed. Once the seed falls from the plant, these awns bend and straighten with weather changes. This allows the seed to burrow into the soil. Seed ripens from October to January, and is released from the plant quickly. Once collected, the seed should be stored for 12-18 months. Remove the structures that enclose the seed before sowing. Germination is erratic.
GRASSES & RUSHES MAIN
Joycea pallida
Silver Top Wallaby Grass or Red Anther Wallaby Grass
This tussock grass grows in sunny, well-drained, low nutrient situations either side of the road cutting. It forms a large hummock of 20-40cm., which consists of fine green to straw coloured rough leaves with a general draped over appearance. The flower heads grow on long stems 1-1.5m. high from October to January. A papery, bracket-like structure encloses the female parts, with the characteristic red anthers attached to the outside. These fall off, leaving the seed to ripen through summer. Seed is released from the plant within 14 days of maturity, leaving the long stems which stay on the plant for most of the year. Collect the seed when it has changed from green to off-white, and store for at least 3 months. Optimum temperatures for germination are between 15-25 degrees C. Seed retains viability for at least 2-3 years. This grass forms habitat for small, ground-dwelling fauna.
GRASSES & RUSHES MAIN
Lomandra longifolia
Spiny-headed Mat Rush
This mat-rush likes well-drained but moist situations, and can be mainly found between the entrance road and Watsons Creek. It forms a large tussock of strappy, bright green, glossy leaves up to 1m. long and about 1cm. wide. Each leaf is toothed at the tip. Creamy yellow flowers form in stiff clusters on a tough, flattened stalk from September to December, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Although the seed is released on maturity in late December and January, the spiky seed heads remain on the plant for most of the year.
Cut the whole flower spike when the capsules have turned brown. Each contains 2-3 hard seeds, which need to be sown soon after collection. Germination takes 8-10 weeks. It can also be propagated by division. Lomandra longifolia is a great plant species to reduce weed invasion, and provides habitat for small, ground dwelling animals and reptiles.
GRASSES & RUSHES MAIN
Poa labillardieri
Common Tussock Grass
This grass forms a dense tussock in slightly moist to dry conditions. It can be seen along the School entrance road. Rough, fine leaves grow up to 80cm. long. They are usually a bright green, but can vary to blue-green or grey-green, changing colour with season or age. Fine, open flowerheads are pale yellow or golden, and can reach a height of 1.2m. These appear from October to December, with the seed dropping fairly quickly on maturity. Collect seedheads as they ripen through December and January, then shake or stroke to remove seed. Sow directly into tubes, covering seed lightly. Expect germination in 2-4 weeks. Seed from the Common Tussock Grass remains viable for several years.
GRASSES & RUSHES MAIN
Themeda triandra
Kangaroo Grass
Kangaroo grass (known as Lion Grass in Africa) grows in open, well-drained situations. It is an important food source for grazing animals, as it grows actively throughout summer. Leaf colour can vary from green to purple or blue, depending on soils and conditions. Leaves grow up to 40cm., with longer stems that support the rusty-red flower heads, which appear from September and mature from December. The seed is carried in fan shaped structures, with long “tails” up to 7cm. long which become shiny and black with maturity.
Test for seed ripeness by pulling on the tail: if the seed releases, it is ready, but if the tail breaks off, it is not. Cut the whole seed head, but as the rate of maturity varies in each, not all seed will be viable. Store seed for at least one month, then treat with smoked water(available from specialist nurseries). Plant in January or February, then be patient as germination can take up to one year. Some seed has a long dormancy period, and will remain in the soil seed-bank until stimulated by bushfire.
GRASSES & RUSHES MAIN
