Tall Wheat-Grass

Family: Grass (Poaceae syn. Gramineae)

Scientific Name:

Lophopyrum ponticum (syn. Agropyrum elongatum, Elytrigia elongata, Elytrigia pontica, Elymus elongatus, Thinopyrum ponticum, Lophopyrum elongatum, Thinopyrum elongatum)

Flowering spike of Tall Wheat-grass
Ex Matters & Bozon

Status:

Native to southern Europe and Asia Minor. Introduced into Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania as a fodder and reclamation grass for salt affected soils.

Plant Description:

Very tall, thick-stemmed, perennial grass, usually about 1 m tall, in clumps about 20 cm across. The stems are tough and smooth with prominent nodes. Leaves are long, flat to inrolled, prominently veined, more or less hairless and with a rough upper surface towards the sharply-pointed tips. Flower-heads are long (to 40 cm) erect, spikes and similar to wheat. The stalkless spikelets are 10-25 mm long, and grow out of notches either side of the stem, often curving away from the central stem (rachis) of the spike. Each spikelet is orientated with its flattened side towards the rachis and contains about 8-12 closely overlapping florets. Flowers spring to autumn.

Habitat:

Prefers wet, saline, clay loams, and clays which dry and harden in summer.

Region	Salinity Class	Waterlogging Class
Loddon Murray, Central and Northern, Wimmera, Western, Gippsland	S0, S1, S2, S3	W2

* may invade these classes but deliberately sown into higher classes

Comments:

Tall Wheat-grass is considered to be a serious weed when it escapes into native wetland environments, as it can quickly become dominant through crowding out all other species. Controlled management of farm stands is essential to maximise livestock nutritional value, control vermin (e.g. rabbits, foxes) habitat, reduce fire hazard and prevent unintentional spread.

Tall Wheat-grass may be confused with the ryegrasses in flower-head type, but the latter have spikelets that are orientated with their thin edge facing the rachis.

Tall Wheat-grass Photos

Mature stand of Tall Wheat-grass Ex Matters & Bozon	Stand of Tall Wheat-grass with new growth emerging through remains of last season's tussock Photo: A J Brown
Stem and leaf of Tall Wheat-grass Photo: A J Brown	Mature spike of Tall Wheat-grass Photo: A J Brown
Stems of Tall Wheat-grass Photo: A J Brown	Spikelets of Tall Wheat-grass Photo: A J Brown

Related Links

Department of Primary Industries - Information Note Series

Page top