The Perennial Tussock Forming Grass Weeds of the Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain: Biology, Management and Control

seed to settle and collect. collect. and settle to seed weed allow to incorporated sumps in the Perth region. Perth the in

naged. Drain outlets can have have can outlets Drain naged. ma be to need populations source productivity of some grasses. This appears to be true of Love Grass Grass Love of true be to appears This grasses. some of productivity

many seeds allows them to float easily. Upstream and uphill uphill and Upstream easily. float to them allows seeds many

may increase increase may treatment icide herb follow-up without Slashing Note:

can disperse large numbers of seeds. The light weight of of weight light The seeds. of numbers large disperse can Water

herbicide. appropriate the with sprayed

open habitats subject to frequent winds. winds. frequent to subject habitats open

green material. When regrowth is lush and vigorous, plants are spot spot are plants vigorous, and lush is regrowth When material. green

plays a central role in dispersal and many grasses occupy occupy grasses many and dispersal in role central a plays Wind

ximise the regrowth of leafy leafy of regrowth the ximise ma to phase vegetative the during

ous growth; this should be done done be should this growth; ous vigor promote to and material old allows us to limit further spread and re-infestation. re-infestation. and spread further limit to us allows

treatment. Tussocks are slashed to the base to remove the bulk of of bulk the remove to base the to slashed are Tussocks treatment. perennial grasses. An understanding of seed dispersal mechanisms mechanisms dispersal seed of understanding An grasses. perennial

is generally used in conjunction with a herbicide herbicide a with conjunction in used generally is Slashing

¾ Seed is important for the spread and establishment of many many of establishment and spread the for important is Seed

? d a e r p S s d e e W s s a r G e s e h t o d w o H

flowering flowering boot nsition tra vegetative vegetative transition boot flowering flowering boot transition vegetative

grass seedlings and resprouting tussocks. tussocks. resprouting and seedlings grass

all dormant buds at the base. base. the at buds dormant all

unplanned fire resources should be allocated for controlling weed weed controlling for allocated be should resources fire unplanned

Care must be taken to remove remove to taken be must Care possible. as much as disturbance soil

dramatically if there is no intensive control program. Following Following program. control intensive no is there if dramatically

low the crown tissue. Minimise Minimise tissue. crown the low be roots the through cut to knife a

land following fire will increase increase will fire following land bush the within invasion Grass

small populations in good condition bushland by using using by bushland condition good in populations small Handweed

: s e u q i n h c e t l o r t n o C : s e u q i n h c e t l o r t n o C

flora. native

asses leading to the exclusion of of exclusion the to leading asses gr invasive by exploited effectively mistaken eradication of native grasses! grasses! native of eradication mistaken

ght and space availability are then then are availability space and ght li nutrients, in increases Post-fire

¾ allows you to assess the likelihood of invasion and prevents prevents and invasion of likelihood the assess to you allows

rly identification of grass weeds weeds grass of identification rly Ea native. or introduced are grasses

grasses. seedling of establishment

is important to determine if if determine to important is It grasses. unfamiliar Identifying

fire tends to promote flowering and then germination and and germination then and flowering promote to tends fire

ng, as the disturbance caused by by caused disturbance the as ng, self-perpetuati are changes These

¾ t and spread of grass weeds. weeds. grass of spread and t establishmen the increase significantly

Reducing the potential for bushfires. As mentioned, fire can can fire mentioned, As bushfires. for potential the Reducing

and intensity in a particular bushland patch. patch. bushland particular a in intensity and

fire hazard. Grass weed invasion then changes the fire frequency frequency fire the changes then invasion weed Grass hazard. fire sites and do not establish or compete successfully in the shade. shade. the in successfully compete or establish not do and sites

Over time the dead material accumulates and creates a significant significant a creates and accumulates material dead the time Over

¾ ny grasses prefer open sunny sunny open prefer grasses ny Ma canopy. bushland the Maintaining

of seed. seed. of

Stems and leaves die each year and new ones develop. develop. ones new and year each die leaves and Stems

¾ Obtaining road building material from a weed free source. source. free weed a from material building road Obtaining

¾ owering may facilitate the spread spread the facilitate may owering fl during mowing or Slashing stage.

tive if applied prior to the boot boot the to prior applied if tive effec only are herbicides selective

the production of a large biomass in a small space. space. small a in biomass large a of production the and seed before moving into uninfested areas. areas. uninfested into moving before seed and

through to seeding. Most grass grass Most seeding. to through continues and stage) (boot sheath

the clump. This structure allows allows structure This clump. the inside deep penetrate to sunlight down to remove grass material material grass remove to down cleaned is maintenance roadside

o Flowering begins when the seed head is just emerging from the leaf leaf the from emerging just is head seed the when begins

narrow vertical leaves that are efficient in strong light allowing allowing light strong in efficient are that leaves vertical narrow Slashing before seed set and ensuring machinery involved in in involved machinery ensuring and set seed before Slashing

ck forming species, have long long have species, forming ck tusso especially grasses, Many

production in the regrowth. regrowth. the in production

by: by:

this stage can remove many axillary buds, thereby reducing leaf leaf reducing thereby buds, axillary many remove can stage this d n a l h s u B n i s e s s a r g

d n a l h s u B n i s e s s a r g

Prevention and early intervention. early and Prevention Spread and invasion can be limited limited be can invasion and Spread

ongation, slashing or mowing at at mowing or slashing ongation, el internode of Because elongates.

g n i m r o f k c o s s u t l a i n n e r e p f o d a e r p s e h t d n a e r i F g n i m r o f k c o s s u t l a i n n e r e p f o d a e r p s e h t d n a e r i F

l o r t n o C d n a t n e m e g a n a M

owers and the tissue between nodes nodes between tissue the and owers fl developing start and material

Transition occurs when the growing points stop producing vegetative vegetative producing stop points growing the when occurs

). ). curvula Eragrostis ( Grass Love and ) hirta Hyparrhenia (

diversity of flora and fauna. fauna. and flora of diversity

), Tambookie Grass or Coolatai Grass Grass Coolatai or Grass Tambookie ), calycina Ehrharta ( Veldgrass

production of leafy material. material. leafy of production fires in bushland impacting on the canopy structure and on the the on and structure canopy the on impacting bushland in fires

These serious bushland weeds, mostly from southern Africa, include Perennial Perennial include Africa, southern from mostly weeds, bushland serious These

hing usually results in increased increased in results usually hing slas while stage, this at applied nd frequency of of frequency nd a patchiness lity seasona intensity, change can They

the production of shoots, mostly leaf blade. Herbicides are best best are Herbicides blade. leaf mostly shoots, of production the

groups of environmental weeds in south-west WA. WA. south-west in weeds environmental of groups

native flora particularly native herbs and grasses. grasses. and herbs native particularly flora native

o o Vegetative growth Vegetative

Vegetative growth Vegetative occurs after the first autumn rains and involves involves and rains autumn first the after occurs

large fuel loads. This group of grasses makes up one of the most serious serious most the of one up makes grasses of group This loads. fuel large umps that suppress and displace displace and suppress that umps cl dense large form grasses These

age, each year’s old leaf material and flowering stems accumulate, creating creating accumulate, stems flowering and material leaf old year’s each age, tussock forming perennial grass grass perennial forming tussock a of stages growth Different tussock forming perennial grass grass perennial forming tussock a of stages growth Different

s e s s a r g g n i m r o f k c o s s u t l a i n n e r e p f o s t c a p m I s e s s a r g g n i m r o f k c o s s u t l a i n n e r e p f o s t c a p m I

at run along the soil surface). As clumps clumps As surface). soil the along run at th (stems stolons or nodes) at shoots

(below ground stems that roots and and roots that stems ground (below rhizomes via spread not do They clumps. hould be kept out of bushland. bushland. of out kept be hould s horses and dogs suggest plans stage. stage.

asses that form dense, usually erect, erect, usually dense, form that asses gr perennial are grasses forming tussock bushland, depositing seed with their manure. Many management management Many manure. their with seed depositing bushland, actively growing but before boot boot before but growing actively is plant the when applied be must

al branches of grasses) perennial perennial grasses) of branches al (bas tillers and/or seed by Reproducing tracks. Horses can spread grass weeds from paddocks into into paddocks from weeds grass spread can Horses tracks. grass selective herbicides herbicides selective grass , grasses perennial established With

and humans (among others) readily disperse seeds along bush bush along seeds disperse readily others) (among humans and ? s e s s a r g g n i m r o f k c o s s u t l a i n n e r e p e r a t a h W ? s e s s a r g g n i m r o f k c o s s u t l a i n n e r e p e r a t a h W

grasses are susceptible. susceptible. are grasses

can carry grass seeds on their skin and fur. Dogs, horses horses Dogs, fur. and skin their on seeds grass carry can Animals

have little impact on most native species. However some native native some However species. native most on impact little have

values of bushlands across south-western Australia. Australia. south-western across bushlands of values

or 4 L/ha) has been found to to found been has L/ha) 4 or ml/L 10 at (applied Fusilade® Plain. often carry grass weed seed. seed. weed grass carry often

impacting on the nature conservation conservation nature the on impacting seriously are grasses introduced these

rial including soil and gravel gravel and soil including rial mate building Road seed. spreads woodland on the Swan Coastal Coastal Swan the on woodland Banksia in dicots or monocots other

been introduced from other countries, mainly for agricultural purposes. Today Today purposes. agricultural for mainly countries, other from introduced been

ing flowering flowering ing dur slashing and verges road along tillers) (and selective for susceptible grasses and have little impact on most most on impact little have and grasses susceptible for selective

Almost one third of the 709 grass species recorded in Western Australia have have Australia Western in recorded species grass 709 the of third one Almost

dispersal. Grading drags seed seed drags Grading dispersal. weed grass for mechanisms provide tussock forming perennial grasses. These herbicides are highly highly are herbicides These grasses. perennial forming tussock

a i l a r t s u A n r e t s e W n i s d e e W s s a r G

a i l a r t s u A n r e t s e W n i s d e e W s s a r G riate management practices, practices, management riate inapprop including activities, Human with a grass selective herbicide controls many many controls herbicide selective grass a with spraying Spot

Key points Leach, T. J. (2000) Managing a weed grass Hyparrhenia hirta Coolatai or Tambookie Grass. Native Grass – South Australia, 1 (6): 121-123. Grass weeds are often spread around the landscape by roadside McArdle, S.L., Nadolny, C. and Sindle, B.M (2004) Invasion of native vegetation by maintenance machinery involved in grading and slashing activities. Coolatai Grass Hyparrhenia hirta: impacts on native vegetation and management MANAGING WEEDS IN BUSHLAND implications. Pacific Conservation Biology, 10: 49-56. Invasion of many grasses is often facilitated by fire and loss of canopy cover. Moore, J.H.& Wheeler, J. (2002) Southern weeds and their control. Department of Agriculture of Western Australia Bulletin No 4558/02. Recognising and treating grasses at the appropriate growth stage is integral to a successful outcome of any control program. Smith, M.A., Bell, D.T. & Loneragan, W.A. (1999) Comparative seed germination ecology of Austrostipa compressa and Ehrharta calycina (Poaceae) in a Western Australian Banksia woodland. Australian Journal of Ecology, 24 (1): 35-42. It is important to identify unknown grass species and not just assume Getting Involved - The Environmental Weeds that because it is a grass it is a weed. There are many grasses native to the Perth region Action Network: The Environmental Weeds Action Network (EWAN) is a community initiative Developing and implementing a weed to tackle the problem of environmental weeds in bushland and waterways. It brings together community members in both urban and rural areas, bush management strategy regenerators, local government, weed scientists and ecologists to save our Weed management in bushland is about the protection and restoration of indigenous flora from the threat of weeds. diverse natural ecosystems. The aims of EWAN include: A first step in developing a strategy is gathering information on the distribution • promoting an understanding of the threat of environmental weeds to our of native flora (flora list), the native plant communities (vegetation map), the precious bushland. patterns of disturbance across your bushland patch (vegetation condition map) • providing useful information about weed control in native vegetation and and then the distribution of the target weed species. elsewhere. Maps of the target weed are a basic planning tool and allow for careful targeting • convincing governments at all levels of the need for appropriate legislation of limited resources. They also provide the information for costing out a weed and funding for weed control. management strategy and monitoring success. • researching methods of weed control. • encouraging community participation. As a first priority target small populations of the weed in good condition bushland. Consider the impact of the weed on rare plants or Telephone (08) 9457 2896 or visit our web site at: rare plant communities. Contain the spread of larger populations. www.members.iinet.net.au/~ewan/

Monitor the effectiveness of a weed management program and possible Acknowledgments: impacts on the native plant community then use the information to guide future management actions (see reference list for information on monitoring methods). Published by Environmental Weeds Action Network and printing funded by the State Weed Committee. Always have resources available to control grass weeds following fire. Much of information has come from “Bushland Weeds; A Practical Guide to Their Management” by Kate Brown and Kris Brooks. Correct timing is fundamental to successful grass weed control. Develop Tambookie Grass illustration reproduced from Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of works programs and organise contractors at the beginning of each year. South Africa No. 58: 339, with the kind permission of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa. All other illustrations by Libby Sandiford. Reference and further information: Compiled by Kate Brown and Grazyna Paczkowska (CALM) 2005. Brown, K. and Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds; A Practical Guide to Their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood WA. Urban Nature Dixon, B. (1998) Best management practices for the control of Perennial Veldgrass Department of Conservation and Land Management Ehrharta calycina. In Managing our bushland. Proceedings of a conference about the Veldgrass (Ehrharta calycina) management and protection of urban bushland. (eds K. Tullis & K. Mclean). Urban Swan Region Bushland Council, Perth WA. PO Box 1167 BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983 Elzinga, C.L., Salzer, D.W., Willoughby, J.W. & Gibbs, J.P. (2001) Monitoring plant and Phone (08) 9368 4399 animal populations. Blackwell Science (Inc.), Massachusetts. Fax (08) 9368 4299 THE PERENNIAL TUSSOCK Gibbs Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L., Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M. & Dallwitz, M.J. (1991) Grasses of southern Africa, Memoirs of the botanical survey of South Africa No. 58. National Botanic Gardens and Botanical Research Institute, South FORMING GRASS WEEDS Africa. Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Cousens, R.D., Dodd, J. & Lloyd, S.G. (1997) Western weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.