POACEAE (GRAMINEAE)

Kangaroo Grass

 

1.2m (120cm) 

Stalked clusters of green and purple spikelets with long purple bracts, rustybrown when ripe. 

Grains 

Deep rooted tussocky perennial grass. 

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Tamar 

Grassy Vegetation; Montane Vegetation; Along roadsides 

May be seen in large patches along roadsides and in openings in the forest where the stocking rate is low, sea level to montane. 

Dry; Exposed; Moist 

Hardy 

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Well-drained 

To direct seed lay the seed-bearing stalks thickly during late summer / early autumn. Over winter the seed work their way into the soil. Burn the remaining stalk material in spring and the seedlings should emerge. Herbicides may be needed in weed-infested areas. Provides moderate forage value, and a useful green 'pick' after summer rainfall. Valuable for stock fodder when other more palatable grasses have been consumed. It does not persist well under heavy grazing and has been out-competed by other grasses, many introduced, especially with increased soil fertility levels.Seed are food for finches and parrots.Provide habitat for ground dwelling animals skinks frogs, insects and mammals. Koori (mainland) use: Leaves and stems were used to make string for fishing nets., sometimes used in basket weaving (modern). Suitable below powerlines. 

Fertile spikelets have long twisting awns, but only one produces a grain. seed is dropped soon after maturity. if seed is released with gentle pressure when the awn is pulled they are mature. dry in paper bags 

Standard 

 

 

Storage for 1 month (Ralph) or 6-11 months (Stelling) may be needed to overcome dormancy, although seed from S.E. Australia usually has low dormancy. For direct seeding method see General Notes. 

2-4 weeks 

Yes 

 

 

Yes 

By division in spring when the plant has resumed growing, after a period of winter dormancy.