SCIENTIFIC NAME: Austrodanthonia caespitose
CATEGORY: C3 perennial
IDENTIFICATION TIPS
- Densely tufted, yearlong green, perennial grasses 20-90cm tall
- Leaves variable, hairless or hairy and flat or rolled, but generally long, narrow and with a hairy fringe at the junction of the leaf blade and leaf sheath
- Seedhead is a loosely contracted panicle. Spikelets are green with pink tinges along the edges of the glumes in early flowering, becoming fluffy white when mature. Florets with 3 rings of hairs and an awn that greatly exceeds the two lateral lobes; the latter end in bristles
- Flowers in late spring and early summer in response to rain
CLIMATIC & SOIL REQUIREMENTS
- Found in a range of plant communities and soil types, but more on clay soils
- Does not tolerate waterlogging, but are very tolerant of soil acidity and aluminium
- Drought and frost tolerant
GRAZING & NUTRITIONAL VALUE
- Moderate to high grazing value
- Digestibility ranges from 37-60% from one semi-arid trial at Cobar
- Crude protein 10.1-14.9%
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
- Produces good amounts of very palatable and nutritious forage that still provides reasonable quality hay or roughage when hayed-off
- Most growth occurs in late winter and spring. Produces little forage after summer rain, but is more likely to do so if plants have been grazed short
- Persists unless very heavily and continuously grazed and will tend to decline if not grazed for a long period
- Abundance increases with increased (to quite high) grazing pressure as it is very tolerant of grazing and trampling and frequent defoliation removes shading from taller plants
- Maintain moderate grazing in late winter and spring to reduce competition from medics and clovers
- Seeds prolifically unless heavily grazed, so spelling to aid seed set is generally not required. However, reducing stocking pressure or resting the pasture following good rains in spring or autumn will aid seedling establishment
- Seed can be sown in spring by broadcasting onto disturbed surfaces, followed by light harrows in spring or autumn. Coverage should be no greater than 3mm, with reliable moisture and low weed burdens being essential
SIMILAR PLANTS
- Approximately 10 species of Austrodanthonia occur on the plains. Common species include A. bipartita, A. fulva and A. setacea. Correct identification of each of the wallaby grass species requires expert knowledge
(Plants with mature seedheads: G Brookes)