Dactylis glomerata
Common name
cocksfoot
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Grasses
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
DACGLO
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial. A plant of coastal, lowland, montane and subalpine habitats (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995). Plant grows in scrub and forest margin, shrubland, tussockland, herbfields, fernland, sand dune hollows and riverbeds (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995).
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FACU: Facultative Upland
Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands (non-wetlands).
Features
Hairless, erect, greyish to bluish green, strongly tufted perennial grass to 1 m tall. Roots fibrous. Leaf folded when emerging, 100–450 × 2–14 mm, rough towards boat-shaped tip, harsh when old, dull beneath with prominent sharp keel. Ligule 2–12 mm long, membranous, often torn. Sheath strongly flattened, sharply keeled. Seedhead a large panicle, with one-sided clusters of flattened spikelets. Seeds with bristly ends.
Similar taxa
Distinctive large pannicle, with one-sided clusters when mature. May be confused with Poa annua when young but sheath base is flattened in D. glomerata and not in Poa annua.
Life cycle
Perennial. Reproduces by tillars and seed. Seed is dispersed by wind, water, humans and vertebrates (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995).
Year naturalised
1867
Origin
Eurasia, Nth Africa
Reason for introduction
Agricultural
Tolerances
The plant is slightly tolerant to drought, shade and poor drainage and is frost tolerant (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995). The plant is able to resprout after physical damage and fire (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995).
Etymology
dactylis: From the Greek dacktyolos ‘a finger’, referring to the shape of the panicle
References and further reading
Timmins SM, Mackenzie IW. 1995. Weeds in New Zealand Protected Natural Areas database. Department of Conservation Technical Series 8. Department of Conservation, Wellington, NZ. 282 p.