Austrostipa scabra

Corkscrew Grass, Slender Speargrass at Hughes, ACT

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Identification history

Austrostipa scabra	15 Nov 2019	michaelb
Austrostipa scabra	15 Nov 2019	ruthkerruish
Eragrostis curvula	7 Nov 2019	michaelb
Unidentified	6 Nov 2019	ruthkerruish

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User's notes

The tufts of this "curly" grass still remain after the dry weather. I have added 2 photos of old seedheads I found and I think it is Corkscrew speargrass (Austrostipa scabra) - not ALG!

8 comments

michaelb wrote:

7 Nov 2019

Hi Ruth
It looks like African Love Grass. A photo of a seed/flower head will help to confirm.
In general for grasses, a good photo of a seed/flower head is required.

ruthkerruish wrote:

7 Nov 2019

This is definitely not ALG.

ruthkerruish wrote:

7 Nov 2019

I am familiar with ALG at all stages of growth - HGW is surrounded by it and it is a constant job for the government programs and us to keep it out!

JackieMiles wrote:

7 Nov 2019

Hmm, ALG would have been my first thought too. The most common form on the tablelands does tend to be quite curly tipped and short in stature compared to what we get on the south coast. Corkscrew grass (Austrostipa scabra ssp falcata) could be possible, but it looks a bit robust for that.

ruthkerruish wrote:

8 Nov 2019

Could be Austrostipa scabra (previously identified on HGW before with seedheads) without the seed heads?

JackieMiles wrote:

8 Nov 2019

It could, but I'd be keeping a very close eye on it once there is a bit of rain to see what sort of seed heads start forming. I think ALG is also a strong possibility.

michaelb wrote:

8 Nov 2019

It doesn't look like Austrostipa scabra. The leaves are more erect and not curly. ALG is more likely. But as I said, in general for grasses, a good photo of a seed/flower head is required.

JackieMiles wrote:

8 Nov 2019

Yeah, one of the problems with ALG is that it is such a shape-shifter. We get at least 3 forms down on the coast, the "normal" medium sized one, the smaller, curlier, sometimes bluer "tablelands form" and a really robust broad-leaved form, which often doesn't get recognised as ALG till it is well established. I've seen the first two forms on the Monaro.

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