Nassella trichotoma

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Nassella trichotoma
Serrated tussock.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Nassella
Species:
N. trichotoma
Binomial name
Nassella trichotoma
(Hack. ex Arech.)
Synonyms [1]
  • Agrostis trichotoma(Nees) Trin.
  • Caryochloa trichotoma(Nees) Kuntze
  • Oryzopsis trichotoma(Nees) Druce
  • Piptatherum macratherum(Steud.) Nees ex B.D.Jacks.
  • Piptochaetium trichotomum(Nees) Griseb.
  • Stipa macrathera(Steud.) Speg. nom. illeg.
  • Stipa tenellaGodr.
  • Stipa trichotomaNees
  • Urachne macratheraSteud.
  • Urachne trichotoma(Nees) Trin.

Nassella trichotoma, commonly known as the serrated tussock, is a type of bunchgrass plant, native in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru.

Contents

It is on the list of Weeds of National Significance in Australia, reducing the productivity of pasture and creating a fire hazard. In many states, landowners are required by law to keep their land free of this plant. Herbicides that control the plant are generally expensive monetarily, contributing to its growth country's such as Australia. [2]

In New Zealand is classed as an unwanted organism by Biosecurity New Zealand and is under strict control regimes by some of the regional councils. [3]

Characteristics

Nassella trichotoma tends to grow cespitose (in dense tufts), and stands about 20 cm (7.9 inches) to 60 cm (24 inches) tall. The branches usually grow between two and 6 cm (2.4 inches) long, and the caryopses (simple fruits) grow around 1.2 mm (0.047 in) long. [4] The plants tend to produce a large quantity of seeds, utilizing the wind to spread them over long distances. [5] The plant is similar in appearance and size to indigenous plants of Oceania, which caused a delay in it being recognized as a serious weed. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species , retrieved 31 December 2016
  2. ↑ Jacobs, Surrey (19 May 2000). Grasses | Systematics and Evolution. VIC, Australia: CSIRO. p. 359. ISBN   9780643099005.
  3. ↑ "Nassella". MPI Biosecurity New Zealand. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Flora of North America. Vol. 24. Logan, Utah: Flora of North America Association, Utah State University. 1993. p. 177. OCLC   1423074256.
  5. ↑ Williams, Nicholas; Morgan, John; Marshall, Adrian (22 April 2015). Land of Sweeping Plains | Managing and Restoring the Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia. VIC, Australia: CSIRO. p. 242. ISBN   9781486300822.
  6. ↑ Burdôt, G.; Hurrell, G.; Saville, D. (1992). "Eradication of nassella tussock (Nasella trichotoma), an unlikely outcome of grubbing". New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 35 (3): 245. doi:10.1080/00288233.1992.10427501.


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