Why is Rats Tail Grass Bad?
WouterThe plant that causes the rat tail is called Sporobolus pyramidalis. It is native to Yemen and Africa but has since spread to eastern Australia and is now considered an invasive weed. Its small, hairless seed heads are produced in late summer and pressed against the main stem. Its leaves are tough and sparse.
It is considered a weedy species and has the potential to reduce animal productivity in pastures. It is primarily found in coastal and sub-coastal areas of northern New South Wales and Queensland. It is present on pastures that have burned in the spring. This species is a weed in pastures where the seed bank is impacted by the high temperatures of the fire.
Despite the fact that rats are nocturnal, they are able to survive without human knowledge for long periods of time. Unlike mice, they have excellent camouflage skills, which makes it difficult to detect their presence even in the most remote areas. This allows them to spread diseases, causing havoc in the area around them.
Giant rat’s tail grass is an invasive species in Australia. It grows up to 2m tall and is characterized by long, narrow leaf blades. Its seed heads are pyramid-shaped. When young, this grass is very hard to distinguish from pasture grasses. Before maturity, it does not develop a sooty spike on the seed head. It grows rapidly and can take over a pasture.
