Broad Kernel Espartillo - introduced (*Amelichloa caudata)

Other names: Stipa caudata, Espartillo.

Native to South America.

Family: Poaceae (Grass family).

Occurrence: Scattered. Established in several parts of Castlemaine township.

Identification. It resembles a native spear-grass. Some of the separating features include:

• the summit of the lemma has a tuft of hairs, never a cylindrical corona
• the awn is less than 20mm long
• it is a long-lived tussock
• the leaves are narrow and ridged; the leaves feel rough to the touch
• it also produces plump seed in the leaf bases; these seeds are without awns.
• the ligule is membranous and about 0.5mm long, whith hair tufts at the side.

It has poor nutritional value, similar to that of Serrated Tussock.

Broad-kernel Espartillo, Castlemine.