Chilean Needlegrass - introduced (*Nassella neesiana)

Native to South America. Perennial. C3.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Other names: Stipa neesiana.

Identification:

• it is a tall grass to 1 metre
• the flowers are in a contracted sparse cluster
• the glumes are longer than the lemma bodies
• each spikelet has a single long-awned lemma
• the crown at the awn base has small teeth on the rim so that it has the appearance of a queen's crown
• the ligules are membranous and 0.4-0.7 mm long.

The "queen's crown" at the awn base is distinctive.

A weed of pasture that can crowd out more desirable grasses.

It is a noxious weed and listed as Regionally Restricted in central Victoria. It is also an environmental weed.

Nassella: from nassa a narrow-necked wicker basket; ella: diminutive, referring to the shape of the floret of some species; neesiana in honour of C. G. D. Nees von Esenbeck, 1766-1858, a German botanist.

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