Espartillo - narrow kernel (Amelichloa brachychaeta)
Narrow kernel espartillo is an invasive, perennial, tussock grass up to 1 m tall. It invades native grasslands, pastures and crops in temperate climates, reducing productivity.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Narrow-kernel espartillo:
- is unpalatable to livestock and has low nutritional value
- invades pastures and native grasslands, reducing productivity
- can compete with lucerne crops, reducing yields
- competes with native plants in bushland and stream banks.
What does it look like?
Narrow-kernel espartillo is a dense, perennial, tussock grass up to 1 m high and 1 m wide. As the plants get older, the centre often dies, leaving a ring of leaves.
Leaves are:
- up to 35 cm long and 1.0–2.5 mm wide
- flat or tightly rolled
- stiff and rough to touch.
Narrow kernel espartillo’s ligule it is up to 0.5 mm long with tufted hairs on both sides. The ligule is found where the leaf blade joins the leaf sheath.
Seedheads are:
- brownish purple
- 15–25 cm long and 2–3 cm wide
- on upright stems.
Narrow-kernel espartillo also produces nut-like seeds (clistogenes), which are enclosed within the stem or leaf sheath This type of seed is self-pollinating and contributes to difficulty in managing the plant.
Seeds are:
- yellow brown
- 4.5–6 mm long and 0.9–1.0 mm wide
- oval shaped with awns that are 1–1.5 cm long with 1 or 2 bends
- covered all over with densely silky white hairs.
Roots are:
- fibrous.
Similar looking plants
Narrow-kernel espartillo looks similar to:
- Broad kernel espartillo (Amelichloa caudata), which is more wide spread in NSW. It is difficult to tell the difference between these two species. Broad kernal has slightly broader seeds (1–1.4 mm wide) that are only partly hairy.
- Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima), which only grows to 70 cm and its leaves are leass than 1 mm wide
- Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma), which only grows to 45 cm high and it has narrower leaves less than 1 mm wide.
- Chilean needlegrasses (Nassella neesiana) and cane needle grass (Nassella hyalina), which both have a collar-like structure (corona) where the seed and awn meet.
Similar native plants
Narrow-kernel espartillo also looks similar to native spear grasses (Austrostipa spp.), which often have an ear shaped lobe at the base of the leaf. They do not have dead leaves in the centre of the tussock.
Where is it found?
Only a few naturalised narrow-kernel espartillo plants have been found in NSW. These are in the Central Tablelands, Central West, upper Hunter, North West and Murray regions.
It is native to South America.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Narrow-kernel espartillo thrives in temperate grasslands and can grow in:
- disturbed areas, including roadsides
- open forests
- pastures (especially if sparse or degraded)
- native grasslands
- areas along waterways.
Maps and records
-
Recorded presence of Espartillo - narrow kernel during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
How does it spread?
Espartillo reproduces only by seed. Seeds are produced in open pollinated panicle seedheads and in self-pollinated spikelets at the base of the plant. Most spread is by stock, wildlife and humans. Seeds have awns that can attach to fur, wool and clothing. Seed can also be spread by vehicle movement and water.
Lifecycle
A perennial grass. Seeds germinate in autumn and seedlings grow slowly through the winter. Growth rates increase during spring. Flowering stems develop in late spring and continue throughout the summer, provided enough moisture is available. Growth slows again or even ceases during the following winter, with new tillers developing in the spring.
References
Department of the Environment (2011) Weeds in Australia: Amelichloa brachychaeta. Australian Government. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/ identification/index.html
Department of the Environment (2011) Weeds in Australia: Amelichloa caudata. Australian Government. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/ identification/index.html
Hosking JR, Sainty GR, Jacobs SWL & Dellow JJ (in prep) The Australian WeedBOOK
Parsons, WT and Cuthbertson, EG (2001) Noxious weeds of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
University of Queensland (2011) Factsheet - Amelichloa caudata, Environmental Weeds of Australia for Biosecurity Queensland.
More information
Control
Always treat small infestations to prevent them from becoming large ones. Once established, espartillo is very difficult to control. Treating plants before flowering and seed set can be advantageous. Always check the leaf bases for seeds as these can be produced without any visual seed head forming.
In small infestations, clumps can be dug out and removed. Always dispose of the grass in an appropriate manner to prevent further spread. After removal from the site, plants can be dried out and burnt to destroy plant material.
Cultivation
Seedlings are susceptible to cultivation. This needs to occur before new plants start to produce seeds. Winter cropping and repeated cultivation can be effective in cropping situations.
Pasture management
Espartillo is an advantageous grass that can quickly invade rundown and degraded pastures. Avoid heavy and continuous grazing. Light stocking rates and rotational or strip grazing will help to maintain a vigorous and competitive pasture. This may assist in slowing down an invasion of espartillo. Treat individual plants that emerge by manual removal or possible spot spraying.
Herbicide options
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9792 Expires 31/12/2030
Flupropanate 745 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1.5 to 3 L per ha
Comments: Broadacre control
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9792 Expires 31/12/2030
Flupropanate 745 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 100 to 300 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray control
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9792 Expires 31/12/2030
Flupropanate 745 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 500 mL per 10 L water
Comments: Wiper suppression
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9792 Expires 31/12/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 3 L per ha
Comments: Broadacre control
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9792 Expires 31/12/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 L per 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9792 Expires 31/12/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 3.3 L per 10 L water
Comments: Wiper suppression
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
| Hunter |
Regional Recommended Measure
* (for Regional Priority - Prevention)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. |
| *To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Reviewed 2024
