Espartillo - narrow kernel (Amelichloa brachychaeta)

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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.

This plant should not be sold in parts of NSW

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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 kernel 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 less 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?

By seed

Espartillo only reproduces by seed. Seeds are produced at the end of the stems and within leaf sheaths. The centre of the large clumps can die back leaving a seed-rich mulch. Seeds germinate in autumn and seedlings grow slowly through the winter.

Seeds are spread:

by attaching to animal wool and fur
on clothing and boots
in soil on vehicles or machinery including mowers and slashes
in contaminated agricultural produce
by flowing water.

References

Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS). (2024). Weeds Australia: Narrow Kernel Espartillo, Amelichloa brachychaeta (Godr.) Arriaga & Barkworth Retrieved 20 January 2026 from: https://weeds.org.au/profiles/narrow-kernel-epartillo/

Parsons, W.T. & Cuthbertson, E.G. (2001) Noxious weeds of Australia, 2nd edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 20 January 2026 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Amelichloa~brachychaeta

University of Queensland (2011) Factsheet - Amelichloa caudata, Environmental Weeds of Australia for Biosecurity Queensland.

More information

Control

Successful weed control requires follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

Prevention

Avoid spreading seeds to clean areas by checking and cleaning clothing, boots, vehicles and machinery. Treat plants before they flower and set seed.

Physical removal

If there are only a few plants, they can be dug out by hand.

Disposal

Plants can be dried out and burnt. Check burn sites for seedlings. Contact your local council weeds officer for advice on how to dispose of espartillo.

Pasture management and Grazing

Maintain competitive pastures with dense groundcover. Avoid heavy and continuous grazing. Light stocking rates, rotational grazing or strip grazing can help maintain vigorous pastures, which will limit the growth of espartillo.

Cultivation

Seedlings can be controlled by cultivation. Cultivate before plants start to produce seeds to prevent seed spread. Winter cropping and repeated cultivation can be effective in cropping situations.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

Spot spraying is suitable for scattered plants or in areas that are difficult to access with machinery. Apply herbicide to all foliage until the whole plant looks wet.

Boom spraying

Use boom spraying for dense infestations over large areas.

Weed wipers

Wipers or wands apply herbicide directly onto leaves. This can better target the chemical and minimise damage to other species.

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
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

For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2026