Curly Mitchell grass

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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Astrebla lappacea

CATEGORY: C4 perennial

IDENTIFICATION TIPS

A densely tufted, warm-season perennial with stout rhizomes and growing 30-90cm tall
Leaves tend to curl when hayed-off, hence the name “curly” Mitchell grass
The rigid, straight or curved, spike-like seedhead (5-30cm long and 5-13mm wide) is usually held amongst the foliage
Spikelets occur in two rows on one side of the stem and have florets with a central bristle and two long lateral lobes
Flowers mostly in summer, though episodic

CLIMATIC & SOIL REQUIREMENTS

Common in the northeast on heavy grey cracking clays that can store subsoil moisture over summer
Very drought tolerant, but low tolerance to frost and flood

GRAZING & NUTRITIONAL VALUE

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Long lived, except when subject to severe disturbance, such as overgrazing, heavy trampling, etc
Not highly nutritious at any stage. Hayed-off material is little more than roughage
Not particularly palatable during the growing season, but eaten during drier times and provides useful standover feed
Tolerant of heavy grazing, except during prolonged drought
Best maintained by moderate grazing as this stimulates tillering and seed production
Recruitment and establishment are infrequent (e.g. every 15-20 years), so rest pastures when good prolonged summer rains occur to aid seedling establishment
Seed can be established by sowing into a seedbed or over-sowing and using stock to trample the seed in during wet weather; ideally in Sept/Oct or Jan/Feb when the profile is nearly full

SIMILAR PLANTS

Other Mitchell grasses are less common in the area
The seedhead of hoop Mitchell grass (A. elymoides) is only 2-3mm wide
Barley Mitchell grass (A. pectinata) has a shorter (4-13cm), wider (1-2cm) spike-like seedhead with densely overlapping spikelets

(Mitchell grass grassland: C Gardiner)