| Two species of Nasella
are naturalised in Tasmania. Serrated
Tussock (Nasella trichotoma) is a declared noxious weed in
Tasmania, due to its inedibility and its tendency to invade
pastures. The other species N. leucotricha is also a
potentially serious weed. These species form pale tussocks of very narrow leaves that are
finely serrated at the apex. The inflorescence is a very diffuse
panicle with long, slender branches ending in small spikelets. The
spikelets are one-flowered and have very long, slender awns. The awn
is attached to the lemma, but this and the palea are fused to the
ovary, so it appears that the ovary has a long awn attached
asymmetrically near the apex. |
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