Family Index

Scientific Name

Poa poiformis

Family Name

POACEAE (GRAMINEAE)

Common Name

Island Purple Grass

Status

Rare

Height

90cm

Flowers

2-7 straw-coloured flowers in spikelets, which appear over most of the year.

Fruit

Grains

Form

Similar to Poa poiformis var. poiformis, except it branches from the lower nodes, and the leaf sheaths and internodes are often purple.

Municipalities

Burnie; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast

Communities

Habitat Notes

Shores and offshore islands, East Coast and Furneaux Group.

Site Tolerance

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

General Notes

Propagates easily from seed, or by division of large plants. Cut back in autumn to promote new growth. Attracts seed-eating birds and provides cover for small lizards. Tolerant of salt spray. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Small, in tall, finely branched seedheads. As seed matures, seedheads change from green to light brown. Seed is released within 3-14 days of seed maturity. When the seed is ripe, it will fall when the seedheads are rubbed between your fingers. Cut stalks with secateurs to collect.

Seed Treatment Method

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Yes

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Yes

Cutting Notes