Annual Veldt Grass

Ehrharta longiflora

Quick facts

Status

Permitted s11

Life Cycle

Annual

Growth Form

Grass

Origin

Namibia and South Africa

Flowers

Reddish/purple/green

Dispersal

Water and wind

Names

Other Common Names: Annual veld grass, long flowered veldt grass, oat seed grass, tall ehrharta, veldt grass

Form and function

Grows between 0.2 and 0.6 m tall, occasionally reaching up to 0.9 m and reaches maturity in approximately one year. Its seedbank persists for more than one year. Following fire, plant cover increases through mass germination of soil-stored seed with plants resprouting and setting seed, allowing the species to persist in recovering bushland.

Flowers

Flowers arranged in a loose, open flowering head that branches from the main stem.
The flowering head usually grows up to about 15 cm long (sometimes reaching about 20 cm).
Flowering head sometimes reduced to a short, sparse raceme.
Flowering structures often droop slightly.
Six stamens usually present.

Leaves

Leaves arranged in tufts along the stems.
Flat leaf blades.
40 cm long and 1 to 12 mm wide.
Margins slightly rough.
Surfaces smooth or slightly rough and usually softly hairy or becoming hairless with age.
Ligule membranous, toothed and 1 to 4 mm long.

Seed

Seeds develop within drooping spikelets.
Spikelets 10 to 30 mm long including the awns.
Each spikelet breaks apart naturally at maturity, releasing the seed.

Roots

Fibrous root system typical of annual grasses.

Habitat

Often found in white or grey sandy or loam soils near waterways, coastal environments and seasonally wet places. Also typically found in open woodlands, grasslands and heathlands. In south-western Western Australia, it is typically found in wetlands, waterways, sand dunes and eucalypt woodlands.

May be confused with...

Similar native species: Similar to the sand brome (Bromus arenarius).

Similar non-native species: Similar to Perennial Veldt Grass (Ehrarta calycina) except annual veldt grass is a more loose and sprawling tuft wheareas perennial is an upright tussock. Annual veldt grass has dropping seeds and perennial has drooping green-purple spikelets and perennial veldt grass has upright, reddish-purple spikelets. Similar to Panic Veldt Grass (Ehrharta erecta).

How does it spread?

Dispersed in water, by wind, seeds attaching to the fur of mammals or from slashing activities.

Why is it a weed?

Competes strongly with native ground vegetation and can alter fire regimes in densely infested areas. It has a rapid growth rate and is often one of the first annual grasses to flower, enhancing its invasiveness and competitive advantage over native species.

However, some sources suggest that because it remains green through much of summer and produces relatively low amounts of combustible material, it may reduce fire risk and be considered an asset if maintained under a regime of cool, low intensity burns every 5 to 10 years.

History

Introduced into Australia as animal fodder.

How to control

Physical

Chemical

Physical

For small infestations or individual plants, hand pulling (i.e. using handheld tools such as weed poppers, knives and spades) to remove the entire plant including all the root material. Bag all the removed plants if seeds are present to prevent spread. Note this species is often easier to pull out than native grasses, which tend to be more securely anchored.

Regular mowing and slashing can be used to prevent seed set and provide some control.

Chemical

For infestations or individual plants that are actively growing, apply 40mL of glyphosate (450g/L) in 10L of water using a foliar application method (i.e. spraying foliage with a backpack sprayer, knapsack sprayer or tank and pump spray) in winter or spring up to flowering provides good control.

Secondary seeding often occurs. Repeat this treatment if necessary.

Alternatively, for infestations or individual plants that are actively growing, apply a mix of 18mL fluazifop* (212g/L) with 20mL of wetting agent in 10L of water using a foliar application method (i.e. spraying foliage with a backpack sprayer, knapsack sprayer or tank and pump spray) before flowering stem emerges or at 3-5 leaf stage. Alternatively, apply fluazifop at (128g/L) 30 ml/10 L or 1.6 L/ha (500 L water/ha), using a foliar application method.