Sorghum halepense plant3 NWS - Flickr - Macleay Grass Man

Description:

Description: Introduced warm-season perennial large C4 grass; stems grow to 200 cm tall and arise from long stout rhizomes. Leaves are broad, with distinctive white midribs. Leaf sheaths and nodes are hairless. Flowerheads are large open panicles 25-45 cm long. Spikelets are paired (lower awned, upper unawned), 4-6 mm long, 2-flowered and often red/brown on one side and green on the other. Flowers in summer and early autumn. A native of the Mediterranean, it is a weed of disturbed areas such as roadsides, stream banks and crops. Most common on fertile soils, but sensitive to frosts. Classed as a noxious weed in many regions. Invades cropping land, is a host of crop pests and diseases, is a contaminant of seed crops and is a safety hazard along roadsides. Can be toxic to livestock; this is most likely if grazing stunted, wilted or young plants with hungry stock. Spread by seeds in contaminated hay, grain and seed and by rhizomes during flooding, cultivation or roadside grading. The most effective controls are hygiene and registered herbicides, as ploughing or pulling may aid its spread through the movement of rhizomes. Date: 2 February 2016, 07:45. Source: Sorghum halepense plant3 NWS. Author: Harry Rose from Dungog, Australia. Camera location 31° 18′ 25.99″ S, 150° 39′ 18.02″ E : View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap - Google Earth: -31.307219; 150.655005.