Silky Blue-grass

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©Dichanthium sericeum Richard Hartland CC-BYm

Dichanthium sericeum


Beautiful tufted erect perennial grass to 80 cm high with blue foliage. Hairless leaves to 15 cm long and 4 mm wide, often with a purplish tinge. Stem nodes or leaf collar (ligule) is a ring of erect, white hairs.


Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Other Common Names
Queensland Blue-grass
Distinctive Features

Clumps of large showy seedheads in clumps of 2-6 thin fingers covered in silky white hairs. Blue-green leaf colour is distinctive.

Biology

Perennial. Prefers open ground on well drained heavy clay soils. Palatable to stock and easily eliminated under grazing. Warm-season perennial.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Most of the year.

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Dichanthium
Species
sericeum

Found in all Australian states, New Caledonia, New Guinea and Philippines. The foliage is food for some caterpillars.


Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native