POACEAE (GRAMINEAE)

Tall Wallabygrass

Rare 

120cm 

The flowerhead is higher than the rest of the plant, 7-15cm long, and bears straw-coloured or purple-tinged spikelets. 

Grains 

Erect, tufted perennial grass with inrolled leaves; ribs on the upper surface that feel rough to touch. 

Brighton; Central Highlands; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Kingborough; Sorell; Southern Midlands 

 

Open sclerophyll woodlands to about 300m altitude, in the Midlands and East Coast. 

 

 

 

Grown from seed, which may have an after-ripening period of 2-6 months. For some provenances of this species, fresh seed is not dormant but older seed becomes dormant. Store in jars, as mice are attracted to the seed. Suitable below powerlines. 

Seeds are found at the end of long stalks, which turn from green to off-white and dry as the seed matures. Each seedhead produces numerous seeds. Good results when seed is fresh, and temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees C. Seed released within 3-14 days of seed maturity, collect from late November to early January. Collect by cutting the stalks with secateurs, and rub seedheads betweeen two rubber car mats (or hands for smaller amount) to extract. 

 

Several years at least 

 

 

3-5 weeks for non-dormant seed