Common Native Grasses of Central West NSW
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Common native grasses of central west NSW An identification guide for central west NSW CONTENTS Chairmen’s foreword 02 • Plume Grass (Dichelachne spp) 44 Tablelands, Slopes and Plains Introduction 03 • Perennials, annuals and others • Poa Tussock (Poa labillardierei) 46 • C3 and C4 grasses Tablelands and Slopes • Area and climate • Purple Wiregrass (Aristida ramosa) 48 – Central West Tablelands Tablelands and Slopes – Central West Slopes • Queensland Bluegrass (Dichanthium 50 – Central West Plains sericeum) Plains • Native pastures • Sowing native pastures • Red Grass (Bothriochloa macra) 52 • Managing native pastures Tablelands, Slopes and Plains • Nutritional value • Rough Speargrass (Austrostipa scabra) 54 Tablelands, Slopes and Plains Glossary 12 • Silky Browntop (Eulalia aurea) 56 Description of common grasses 15 Slopes and Plains • Barbed Wire Grass (Cymbopogon refractus) 16 • Silvertop Wallaby Grass 58 Tablelands, Slopes and Plains (Rytidosperma pallidum) • Blown Grass (Lachnagrostis filiformis) 18 Tablelands and Slopes Tablelands, Slopes and Plains • Slender Bamboo Grass (Austrostipa 60 • Box Grass or Knottybutt Grass 20 verticillata) Slopes and Plains (Paspalidium constrictum) • Slender Rats Tail Grass (Sporobolus 62 Slopes and Plains creber) Tablelands and Slopes • Bunch Wire Grass 22 • Snow Grass (Poa sieberiana) 64 (Aristida behriana) Tablelands and Slopes Slopes and Plains • Tall Oat Grass (Themeda avenacea) 66 • Common Wheatgrass (Anthosachne scabra) 24 Tablelands, Slopes and Plains Tablelands, Slopes and Plains • Tall Speargrasses (Austrostipa 68 • Cotton Panic Grass (Digitaria brownii) 26 bigeniculata and A. rudis) Tablelands Slopes and Plains • Tall Windmill Grass (Chloris ventricosa) 70 • Curly Mitchell Grass (Astrebla lappacea) 28 Slopes and Plains Plains • Wallaby Grasses (Rytidosperma 72 • Curly Windmill Grass (Enteropogon 30 species) Tablelands, Slopes and Plains acicularis) Slopes and Plains • Warrego Summer Grass (Paspalidium 74 • Hairy Panic (Panicum effusum) 32 jubiflorum) Slopes and Plains Tablelands, Slopes and Plains • Water Couch (Paspalum distichum) 76 • Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) 34 Tablelands, Slopes and Plains Tablelands, Slopes and Plains • Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides) 78 • Native Millet (Panicum decompositum) 36 Tablelands and Slopes Slopes and Plains • Windmill Grass (Chloris truncata) 80 • Neverfail (Eragrostis setifolia) 38 Tablelands, Slopes and Plains Plains • Paddock Lovegrass (Eragrostis 40 References and further reading 82 leptostachya) Tablelands and Slopes • Plains Grass (Austrostipa aristiglumis) 42 Slopes and Plains This is a revised version of the publication Common native grasses of the central west catchment, produced by the former Central West Catchment Management Authority (CMA). The NSW Department of Primary Industries was contracted to compile the former guide. Revised by Clare Edwards and Harry Rose, with input from Stephen Pereira. The original text was researched and compiled by Harry Rose, Linda Ayres, Carol Rose, Jenene Kidston and Cathy Waters. Special thanks to Bruce Clements, Luke Pope, Ron Hacker and Kathi Hertel for additional comments. Special thanks are given to the people and associations that provided the photos and drawings that appear throughout this guide. Staff from the former Central West CMA who provided input to this publication include: Rob Baun, Bruce Christie, Colleen Farrow, Adam Hook and Alan Welch. The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of revision (June 2015). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that the information upon which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Local Land Services or the user’s independent adviser. As this work covers native vegetation, users must consider requirements under current legislation. For further information contact your Local Land Services office or visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au © State of New South Wales published by Local Land Services [2015]. You may copy, distribute, display, download and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute Local Land Services as the owner. However, you must obtain permission if you wish to: › charge others for access to the publication (other than at cost) › include the publication in advertising or a product for sale › modify the publication › republish the publication on a website. You may freely link to the publication on a departmental website. 3 CHAIRMEN’S FOREWORD We take great pleasure in presenting you with a revised Native grasses of central west NSW. Contained here is practical information to support land managers across the Central West and Central Tablelands Local Land Services regions. You will be better able to identify common native grass species on your land and understand their value in grazing management systems. We have focused on perennial common species with a focus on how to identify and their role in supporting a livestock enterprise. This resource will support your grazing enterprise and we encourage you to read further. There are a number of resources at the end of this publication that will further develop your understanding. Tom Gavel Ian Armstrong, AM, OBE CHAIR CHAIR CENTRAL WEST LLS CENTRAL TABLELANDS LLS 4 INTRODUCTION Approximately 403 grass species are found across the Central West Tablelands, Slopes and Plains of NSW, of which more than half (251) are native. The native grasses, especially perennial species, form an important component of pastures, native grasslands and woodland and forest understoreys. They are a valuable grazing resource and component of biodiversity in the region, as well as providing food and habitat for native animals. The purpose of this identification guide is to provide a means to recognise some of the more common native perennial species and gain a better understanding of their value within grazing systems and the natural environment. The guide does not seek to cover all native species in the area, as for many native species there is little or no quality or management data available. Rather, the guide concentrates on perennial grasses that are common and widespread and where some reliable quality or management information is known. Each grass has notes on its recognition, distribution, forage quality and management. Also listed are grasses that are most likely to be mistaken for, at either the vegetative or flowering stage. This project is supported by Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. 5 Perennials can grow from buds in the crown of the plant Perennials, or from seed. When regrowing from buds they have an advantage over annuals as their root system is already in Annuals and place. However, if the crown of the plant is damaged by overstocking or protracted drought the perennial needs to Others regenerate from seed. In this situation, perennials are at a disadvantage when compared with more vigorously growing It is important to appreciate the annuals. Some perennials tend to behave as annuals under range of growth cycles of pasture severe drought conditions, for example Windmill Grass species to ensure appropriate grazing (Chloris truncata) and Spear Grass (Austrostipa species). management is used. Native perennial grasses (i.e. those species that live for In these situations, such short-lived perennials will tend to two or more years) are the focus of this expend a greater proportion of their energy producing seed publication as they form the bulk of any than other more long-lived perennials. healthy native pasture and provide a number of valuable functions that are Within a pasture system, perennials can usually be identified not, or only partially, provided by annual by being difficult to pull out of the ground. This is because grasses (i.e. those that complete their they produce tillers from persistent crowns, which are strongly lifecycle within a year). rooted to the soil. Annuals, however, do not form a persistent well-rooted crown and are generally easier to pull out. Perennials • Perennials use more water than Annual grasses are often an important and high quality annuals due to their larger and source of forage for livestock across the catchment. Annuals deeper root systems; thereby reducing grow from seed when conditions are favourable. This usually deep drainage, nitrate losses and requires several days of moist conditions, which is most likely acidification rates. to occur when evaporation rates are low. Annual grasses • They have extensive root systems produce a bulk of growth before setting large numbers of that allow them to persist from year seeds and then dying off. to year. • They reduce soil erosion by providing Ephemeral plants are found predominantly in the Plains of the year-round ground cover. This is Central West and have similar characteristics to annuals, but especially important in late summer have a shorter life-cycle that may be completed a number of and autumn when summer annuals times in any one growing season. Biennial species are longer have finished, but winter annuals lived and tend to take two years to complete their life cycle. haven’t begun. • They are more adapted to surviving droughts and respond more quickly after breaking rains. • They provide effective weed competition as they efficiently use light, water and nutrients year- round. Again, this can be especially important in late summer and