Pennisetum pedicellatum subsp. pedicellatum
Kyasuma grass is a highly invasive form of annual mission grass, growing as an erect tussock grass 1.5 to 2 metres tall.
Leaves leaf blades up to 45 centimetres long with a ring of short hairs at the base of the leaf blade.
Flowers are soft and fluffy ‘fox tail’ in appearance, 5 to 15 cm long, cream coloured or with a strong pink/purple tinge.
Seeds spikelets have numerous soft bristles to 2.5 cm long, particularly on the lower half.
Habitat grasslands and open woodland in the dry tropics.
Weed characteristics this grass is quick growing, unpalatable to livestock and outcompetes native species. It can invade into native and improved grassland areas, displacing desirable plants, reducing carrying capacity for stock and significantly altering fuel loads and fire regimes.
Dispersal seeds are easily dispersed by wind, water, animals and humans.
This grass is not yet declared in Queensland.
How to act
The grass must be prevented from setting seed. Small infestations can be removed by hand but larger infestations should be foliar sprayed before they set seed.
Refer to Weed Control Methods.
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