Nassella neesiana
Common name
Chilean needle grass
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.
NASNEE
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Detailed description
Erect, tussocky, tufted perennial grass to 1 m tall (prostrate with dense horizontal tillers where heavily grazed). Stem base swollen. Leaves yellowish-green, 400 × 1–5 mm (rolled when in drought),margins rough and bristly. Leaf collar has tufts of erect hairs on both sides. Ligule short, membranous. Seedheads of 2 types: large, drooping, open, harsh, purplish, turning silver; and small, hidden in leaf sheaths (appear as swellings in stem above node). Seed 8–10 mm long, narrow, bristly, sharply pointed, with 60–80 mm twisted hair-like awn, November–December.
Similar taxa
Lolium arundinaceum subsp. arundinaceum is similar in growth but N. neesiana has narrower leaves and the spear-like attachment on the seed is distinctive.
Flowering
November, December
Year naturalised
1940
Origin
S. America
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental.
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial. seeds are >90% viable and survive for several years in the soil and germinate in autumn and spring.
Dispersal
Restricted distribution due to a lack of wind dispersal; localised spread occurs through seed being transported by stock, in hay, on clothing, by machinery and in water.