Black speargrass

Family: Poaceae
Scientific name: Heteropogon contortus
Description: Plant Form: Perennial tussock grass. Size: Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem: Green to bluish, hairless or with only a few scattered hairs. Leaves: Blades 5-30 cm long, folded along midrib. Flowers: In spike with a pair of male and female, hairiness of the spike varies substantially. Fruit and Seeds: Female spikelet has a single very long awn which is twisted at the base. These will often tangle together and form clumps. Habitat: This native grass inhabits woodlands, open forests, grasslands, rangelands. Distinguishing Features: Long awned spikelets that tangle together distinguish from other native and introduced grasses (Poaceae). Impacts: Note- this is a native plant. Weed Status: Non-weedy native lookalike Weed Type: Lifeform: Grassy

Example images for this weed