(Trin.) Barkworth, Poaceae |
|
Present on Pacific Islands? no
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Risk assessment results:
Hawaii/Pacific: High risk, score: 24
Risk assessment of Nawwella tenuissima from the Government of Queensland, Australia (PDF format)
Other Latin names: Stipa tenuissima Trin.
Common name(s): [more details]
English: Argentine needlegrass, Mexican feather grass, Mexican needlegrass, Texas needlegrass, Texas tussock, angel's hair, elegant spear grass, finestem needlegrass, finestem stipa, finestem tussockgrass, pony tail, tussockgrass, white tussock |
Habit: grass
Description: "Erect bright green perennial tussock with very narrow rolled leaves in slender shoots white at base, below a long narrow panicle with long fine intertwining awns; branching intravaginal and at nodes. Leaf-sheath to 10 cm, scabrid as leaf-blades, margins ciliate. Prophyll to 10 cm, hairy. Ligule 2.5 mm, becoming acute, minutely prickle-toothed. Leaf-blade to 60 cm x 0.3 mm diameter, terete, abaxially beset with small antrorse prickles, adaxially and on margins very finely short hairy. Culm to 1 m, internodes hairy especially below nodes, antrorsely prickle-toothed elsewhere; nodes ± geniculate. Panicle to 30 cm, contracted, much branched; rachis, branches and pedicels finely stiff hairy often densely so. Glumes unequal, violet below, hyaline above, keels sparsely finely toothed, produced to awn-like processes to 5 mm; lower to 8 mm, upper to 6 mm. Lemma 2 mm, cylindrical, slightly compressed, finely tuberculate, median nerve with long hairs, lobes minute; corona 0.4 mm, spines to 0.2 mm; awn to 50 mm, very fine (0.1 mm), weakly 2-geniculate, column lacking. Palea 0.75-1 mm, membranous, glabrous. Callus 0.2 mm, hairs to 1 mm. Lodicules 2, 0.4 mm. Anthers to 2.5 mm in chasmogamous flowers, 1 fertile anther to 0.5 mm and 2 rudimentary anthers to 0.2 mm in cleistogamous flowers. Gynoecium: ovary 0.6 mm; stigma-styles to 1.25 mm" (Edgar & Connor, 2000; p. 81).
Description from GrassBase.
Habitat/ecology: "Grass- and woodland, disturbed sites. In the native range, this grass occur in grass- and shrubland, in arid woodland from near sea level to about 2,900 m elevation. Primarily it invades disturbed grassland and becomes dominant, crowding out native vegetation and preventing the establish of native plants" (Weber, 2003; p. 281). "Agricultural areas, natural forests, range/grasslands, riparian zones, ruderal/disturbed, scrub/shrublands. Grows on well drained soil and is very drought tolerant" (Global Invasive Species Database).
Propagation: Seed. Seeds are spread by road vehicles and also by machinery, in hay, water, mud and in the droppings of animals (Global Invasive Species Database).
Native range: South central United States, Mexico, Argentina, Chile (GRIN).
Impacts and invaded habitats: In New Zealand, "Crowds out pasture species and native grasses. Very weedy in garden situations. Unpalatable to stock." (Friendly Alternatives, p. 5 [as Stipa tenuissima])
Presence:
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
New South Wales |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
IUCN Species Survival Commission, Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) (2013) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Australia (continental) |
introduced
invasive |
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Mexico
Mexico |
Mexico (United Mexican States) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
New Zealand
New Zealand |
New Zealand (country) |
introduced
invasive |
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
New Zealand
New Zealand |
New Zealand (country) |
introduced
invasive |
Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 81)
Cultivated and a garden escape. |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Chile (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (California) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (California) |
introduced
invasive |
IUCN Species Survival Commission, Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) (2013) |
Also reported from | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states) |
United States (other states) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Nassella tenuissima |
Control:
Physical: "Grub (all year round): Remove soil from roots. Leave on site to rot down.
Chemical: 1. Weed wipe (dense infestations)
(all year round): glyphosate (333ml/L + penetrant).
2. Spray dense spots amongst desirable broadleaved species (spring-summer):
Gallant (5ml/L + crop oil).
3. Spray dense infestations only (all year round): glyphosate (15ml/L +
penetrant)" (Weedbusters New Zealand).