Themeda triandra is a very hardy, evergreen, tall, tufted grass with foliage in many shades of green that turn reddish when older. In southern Australia weed control in late winter/early spring appears to be critical in the survival of newly established plants. Autumn is generally considered the best sowing time as soil surfaces tend not to dry out as quickly as they do in spring. Themeda triandra is a tufted perennial that can grow to 1.5 m tall and 0.5 m across. Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass) was one of the more widespread grassy understorey dominants. mail to indiantreepix@googlegroups.com or itpmods@googlegroups.com 2. It is native to India, Nepal, and Malaysia. In these circumstances, the fibre mulch should be at least 20 mm thick for the best results. Leaf-blades 15-50 cm long; 2-5 mm wide, green or sometimes bluish, folded with a more or less clasping base, becoming more or less flat along the blade towards the acutely pointed tip. The spikelets (grass flowers) form wedge-shaped, usually hanging clusters that may or may not be hairy, with long black or white hairs. After the rains in February and March, seeds can be planted but these will only germinate the following spring. With seed banks in various locations across Australia and the owner of one of Australia’s largest and most established seed merchants, Nindethana, we are in a unique position to be able to provide a diverse range of high quality native seed for a wide variety of restoration projects. • A tussock grass with roots to more than 100 cm depth. Other species. The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as thatch and medicine. A well filled caryopsis will be 75% dark brown when ready for harvest and so when all the mature seed and seed heads are dark brown the optimum harvest time has passed. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) - 30 Pure Seeds at the best online prices at ebay! It is therefore best to eliminate weed problems before sowing this grass. The species Themeda australis syn T. triandra will reach around 1.5m and is found in all Australian states. However, this is changing as more and more people are becoming aware of the beauty of grasses and their usefulness in attracting animals, especially birds, to their gardens. Kangaroo grass can still be seen in remnant plains grasslands and sclerophyll, redgum and box woodlands as well as open grassy forests. Leaves are 10-50 cm long and 2-5 mm wide, green to grey and dry to an orange-brown in summer. This grass is widespread in South Africa, growing in undisturbed grasslands to savanna, in areas of average to high rainfall. The seeds are edible and can be ground into a flour. • Occurs across Australia from the arid inland to the Then if the mulch is burnt in late winter while the soil is still moist, then the seeds will germinate as the soil warms up in the spring. ); rooigras (Afr.). In other circumstances the addition of fertiliser appears not to benefit T. triandra. Guide to the grasses of southern Africa. Themeda triandra – Kangaroo Grass – Buy seeds at rarepalmseeds.com Seeds for sale starting at € 5.60. If drying is not practicable, then the mulch should be spread as soon as possible. During this time plants produce large, distinctive, red-brown spikelets carried on branched stems. Themeda triandra Click to Enlarge: Themeda triandra Click to Enlarge: Themeda triandra Click to Enlarge: Themeda triandra Click to Enlarge: Themeda triandra Leaf|Seed Seeds generally begin to ripen in early December depending on spring rainfall and temperature conditions. Known Hazards Wilted culms contain hydrocyanic acid and are a danger to livestock This method of establishment is perhaps expensive for large areas but it does mean that the expense of harvesting and cleaning seed is avoided. There seems to be little association between abundance of T. triandra and a specific soil type. Themeda triandra is an indicator of the veld being in good condition. The 'plant indigenous' drive and the trend to 'wild gardens' in garden design has changed this. The attractive foliage and seed heads, its adaptability and low maintenance requirement has prompted growing interest in its use from landscape architects. UNIQWA, Phuthaditjhaba. T.triandra(syn. Because the seeds are fairly large (each seed weighs about 10 mg), they will emerge from about 15 mm in most soil types. & Crook, A.O. Finches are fond of the seeds. Briza Publications, Pretoria. Themedais a genus of grasses occurring in Australia, Asia and Africa. The spikelets are also awned, that is they have long stiff bristle-like projections. Direct seeding is easy! If the seed is broadcast then it should be lightly covered with harrows. T. triandra - T. triandra is a dense, clump-forming, evergreen grass with keeled, linear, grey- to blue-green leaves and racemes of reddish-brown flower spikelets, primarily throughout summer.. Themeda triandra is: Evergreen Press wheels to firm the soil around the seed are an advantage. If a forage harvester has been used, then drying a large mass of material sometimes proves difficult. Moffett, R. 1997. The pendulous, purple-red flower spikes are most attractive from September to June. Common names: red grass (Eng. Its individual flower spikelets are moderately-sized (6-14 mm long), hairless (i.e. An extremely widely distributed species, occurring throughout Australia. glabrous) or slightly hairy (i.e. Although clay soils with a high organic content are preferred, if Themeda is occurring naturally in your area, you could try to grow it. The leaves are up to 50 cm long and 3 mm wide and the leaf blades bear sparse hairs. Leistner, O.A. Themeda triandra ‘Quokka’ – Kangaroo Grass The very compact habit coupled with interestingly textured foliage, seed heads and flowers of this iconic Australian native grass are its defining features. The mulch is spread evenly on the ground immediately after harvest, or up to winter and left for about 6 months for the seeds to drop out and presumably penetrate the soil because of the hygroscopic (Hygroscopic - responds (twists or opens) to moisture changes) awns. Once established, little maintenance is needed except cutting back in winter to about one-third of its size and removing most of the old dead leaves. T. triandra has an extraordinarily wide distribution range from the mountains of New Guinea to Tasmania and from the east to the west of the Australian continent. It is also occasionally used as an ornamental plant. Kangaroo grass appears to be most common in situations where grazing disturbance is low, water runs on areas and where fires occur periodically. In Lesotho and bordering areas it is used sometimes for thatching and some basketry. Themeda triandra is a very important and well-known grazing grass that is palatable especially when young. Hagon and Chan (1977) found higher levels of germination in clay than sandy soils. The journals of the early explorers and settlers make frequent reference to this grass. Rooigras, Kangaroo grass, Red grass , Red oat grass, Themeda australis. The young growth is palatable to stock. In eastern Australia flowering occurs throughout summer from December to late April. hispid), and its seeds are topped … The basal parts of the tuft are usually compressed. Themeda Themeda. A more interventionist approach of introducing seed onto the site may be needed in some situations. T. australis) is the most common member of the genus in Australia. Ligule, a ciliolate membrane later splitting into a rim of short hairs with some longer, margin… Today this grass is often found on roadsides or in situations where periodic fire is a common disturbance. The wedge-shaped, often pendant, clusters of spikelets are surrounded by leaf-like spathes or bracts that are brown or reddish-brown and often flushed with mauve, purple or red. Paper pulp can also be made from the culms (stems). Themeda triandra, commonly known as kangaroo grass, is a native perennial grass that grows widely across Australia. Adaptation: Will grow on a wide range of soil types from well drained sandy to clay texture soils. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria. The seed supply of Themeda triandra, syn. It produces spear-shaped seeds that are activated by water, either through increased humidity or when it rains. The seeds that follow are also a beautiful feature of this grass. Older leaves tend to have a red/brown appearance. It also serves as a food source for several avian species, including the long-tailed widowbird. Themeda triandra is a very hardy, evergreen, tall, tufted grass with foliage in many shades of green that turn reddish when older. Leaves: Leaves growing from the base of the stems. Themeda triandra is an indicator of the veld being in good condition. Weed control is easiest in areas with low soil fertility so that the use of fertilisers in the establishment of kangaroo grass stands is not recommended. Cleaned T. triandra seed will flow relatively easily through conventional seed boxes without bridging or the seeds clogging the delivery tubes. High drought tolerance; High heat tolerance It is associated with a wide range of other grasses and herbaceous species. Description. Reaching around 20cm The cultivar T. australis ‘mingo’ makes an excellent ground cover plant for low traffic areas. perennial) grass usually growing less than 1 m tall. It is also known to be resistant to fire, the resistance increasing when burnt regularly, but only if rested after fire and if overgrazing does not occur. Zacharias, P.J.K. ... Hydroscopic awns, low numbers of seeds/kg, spikelets predominantly sterile. Because the seeds are fairly large (each seed weighs about 10 mg), they will emerge from about 15 mm in most soil types. Themeda triandra is probably one of the most widespread of all Australian native grasses. The twisted awns are relatively easily removed from the fertile spikelets and the caryopses are usually retained within the dark, hairy glumes (Glume - the empty bracts at the base of a grass spikelet; usually two glumes are present). T. triandrawill not tolerate continuous grazing. Themeda triandra. It produces distinct large red … 1. It is also known to be resistant to fire, the resistance increasing when burnt regularly, but only if rested after fire and if overgrazing does not occur. For any mistake in identification or for becoming efloraofindia e-group member (for contributing towards building of efloraofindia or otherwise), pl. Genus. Primary dormancy will usually break down slowly with storage periods of up to 12 months or more. This is a lovely green to blue-green tufted grass that is often flushed with pink and turns red with age. The blue weeping foliage will flower in … Its leaves are 10-50 cm long and 2-5 mm wide, green to grey drying to an orange brown in summer. Themeda triandra “Mingo” is a ground covering form with blue foliage and will reach a height of 20 centimetres with a spread of 60 centimetres. Most T. triandra seed samples have some level of dormancy. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) is a moderately-sized long-lived (i.e. If material has been harvested with a forage harvester to be used as seed containing mulch then cleaning is not necessary. The Natal Witness, Pietermaritzburg. T. triandra will not tolerate continuous grazing. Themeda triandra naturally grows over an extensive geographical range on many soil types , and adaptations to a wide variety of soils might be expected. T. triandra is the only species occurring in Africa, but it is also found in Asia and Australasia. World-wide, there are 18 species of Themeda occurring in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, mainly in Asia. Other names. Finches are fond of the seeds. Collins, Harare (Salisbury). Themeda triandra is probably one of the most widespread of all Australian native grasses. Themeda triandra Forssk. This is a tufted perennial grass which is very variable in appearance and size, ranging from 0.3-1.5 m in height. Br.) Themeda triandra. Forage harvesters have also been used to successfully harvest kangaroo grass seed when the harvested material containing the seed is to be spread as a mulch rather than for the preparation of pure seed samples. Our Kangaroo Grass seed and florets come from a high quality, pure strain of Thermeda triandra, virtually not interfered with since population of the area. Show All Show Tabs kangaroo grass General Information; Symbol: THTR8 ... Themeda australis (R. Themeda arguens Christmas grass Themeda japonica . The Plants Database includes the following 6 species of Themeda . Stems: Culms erect; up to 1.5m tall, usually unbranched, smooth, often becoming golden-coloured at maturity. It can also be found in many other places as an introduced species and often a noxious weed. Ecology. The flowering period is from December to February. An established plant can be obtained from a nursery or, depending on the rains in November or December, whole culms with inflorescences can be cut and laid on the ground. Patches of this species occur in favoured locations across the whole of the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia and it also occurs on rocky headlands on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Themeda triandra Characteristics & applications • A robust, long-lived, summer-active perennial producing dense, upright foliage. A very popular grass, widely distributed and common from Africa to tropical and subtropical Asia to Australasia. T. triandra occurs in both grasslands and grassy woodlands as well as under grassy forests. Seeds should be dried at relatively low temperatures immediately after harvest. T. australis (kangaroo grass), for revegetation purposes may always be limited given the biological constraints on its production. Click here to register. Fishing closures, restrictions and permits, Volunteer non-commercial kangaroo shooting, NSW Hunting Stakeholder Consultation Group, Zoonoses - Animal diseases that can infect people, Forest contractor training and certification scheme, Grassed up - guidelines for revegetating with Australian native grasses, Astrebla pectinata (Barley Mitchell grass), Austrodanthonia bipartita (Wallaby grass), Austrodanthonia richardsonii (Wallaby grass), Dichanthium sericeum (Queensland bluegrass), Microlaena stipoides (Microlaena or Weeping grass), Paspalidium jubiflorum (Warrego summer grass). Login to add your Comment Burning in the early autumn once every few years can assist in retaining T. triandra dominance. ... Themeda anathera . The spikelets (Spikelet - consists of one or more florets and is the basic unit of the inflorescence in grasses) are clustered with several sterile spikelets surrounding a single fertile spikelet that bears a large, black, geniculate and twisted awn (Awn - an elongated bristle-like appendage attached to the apex, back or base of the glume, lemma or palea). Kangaroo grass is a tufted perennial up to about 1.5 m tall with individual tussocks up to 0.5 m across. The pendulous, purple-red flower spikes are most attractive from September to June. The species name tri (three) and andr (man) is Greek, referring to the three male spikelets surrounding the bisexual spikelet in each cluster. Themeda quadrivalvis is a species of grass known by the common names grader grass, habana grass, and kangaroo grass, not to be confused with Themeda triandra, which is also known as kangaroo grass. Acocks' Notes: key grasses of South Africa. Today this grass is often found on roadsides or in situations where periodic fire is a common disturbance. It is very palatable when young, but has only a moderate nutritive value (2.8 to 12.4% crude protein). If banks or sloping areas are to be sown then hydromulching is an effective method with kangaroo grass seed added into the seed mix. Plants from higher altitudes tend to be shorter and dark purple, whereas at lower altitudes plants are often lighter coloured and flushed only with purple. T. triandra seed has been used as a famine food in Africa. Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass) More topics in this section. T. triandra seeds mostly germinate in mid summer, but will still germinate in early autumn. Van Oudtshoorn, F. 1999. • Characterised by seed heads of unique form and russet colour on erect stems ~40-150 cm tall. Themeda triandra is a tufted perennial reaching a height of 1.5 metres with a spread of 0.5 metres. Fertile spikelets are indicated by the black, twisted awn and if the awns are no longer present in the seed heads, then the seeds have all fallen. grass Stipagrostis namaquensis steek kweek seed head & stalk 29,50 R 400,00 grass Stipagrostis obtusa kortbeen boesmangras seed head & stalk 2,00 R 400,00 grass Themeda triandra rooigras clean 1,40 R 7 000,00 grass Themeda triandra rooigras on stalks uncleaned 0,10 R 400,00 grass Themeda triandra rooigras heads 0,40 R 1 000,00 You can purchase our high-quality florets for a … This species can be sown at about 1 g/m² which would mean about 100 seeds/m² if each seed weighs about 10 mg. The long awns of the spikelet twirl when wet, and drive the seed … The seed is eaten in times of famine. When used as a landscape planting for colour contrast, little maintenance is needed once the area has become dominated by T. triandra. Plant: A native, tufted, perennial warm season grass. In South Africa, grasses in general and indigenous grasses in particular, have seldom been used in gardens. There are about 30 species worldwide with about 5 being found in Australia. By contrast, Sindel et al. Seed cleaning is not a difficult exercise but large amounts of trash must be processed to obtain a relatively small amount of seed. For small areas like this Themeda triandra crop at our seed production area, seed can be hand broadcast onto a cultivated surface. In some parts of Africa it is used for thatching, but the forms found in southern Africa tend to be flimsy and not durable enough. The main factors that determine the success of direct seeding indigenous species are seed quality and correct site preparation. To grey and dry to an orange brown in summer in General and indigenous grasses in particular, have been., growing in undisturbed grasslands to savanna, in areas of average to high rainfall many other places an... 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