Slender Rat's Tail Grass (Sporobolus creber) ligule
© Harry Rose
Native, warm-season, perennial, erect, tufted grass to 1.2 m tall. Stem bases are rounded. Leaves are hairless (except along their basal margins). Flowerheads are sparse, narrow, contracted panicles to 40 cm long; branches are short, stiff and pressed against the main stem (which is visible for most of its length). Spikelets are about 1.5 mm long, 1-flowered and dark coloured. Flowering is from late spring to autumn. Found in native pastures and woodlands on low fertility, lighter soils, but rarely dominant. Less common in old naturalised pastures. Palatability and digestibility are moderate for young growth, but low otherwise. Very low yielding and provides no economic response to fertiliser. Favoured by set stocking due to its low palatability.
Photo taken on 1 Feb 2015