Rat-tail Grass

Rat-tail Grass

Rat-tail Grass

Sporobolus africanus

Perennial. Found largely in near-coastal areas, particularly on roadsides. Invasion into pastures is an indication of low and decreasing soil fertility.

Details Description
Type
Graminoid
Group
Grass
Identifying Characteristics

Dull to dark green tufted grass with erect culms to 70 cm tall. Leaf blades are up to 20 cm long and 6 mm wide. The inflorescence is a slender dense spike-like panicle to 20 cm long with many short, erect overlapping branches. Grey or purplish green spikelets 2-2.5 mm long. Flowers mainly November-June.
Distinctive Features

The inflorescence is continuous throughout except sometimes at the very base.
Life Form Group
Graminoid
Life Form Codes
Medium to Small Tufted Graminoid (MTG)
EVC types
EVC 649: Stony Knoll Shrubland
Native Status
Native to Australia
Weed Status Invasiveness
High INVASIVE
Weed Status Impact
High IMPACT
Taxonomy
Phylum
Charophyta
Class
Equisetopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Sporobolus
Species
africanus
Rat-tail Grass
Indigenous to South Africa. Naturalized in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Endangered Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.