Mexican feather grass in Queensland. Martin Hannan-Jones

Transcription

1 Mexican feather grass in Queensland Martin Hannan-Jones

2 What is Mexican Feather Grass (MFG)? MFG is a close relative of Chilean needle grass (WONS) serrated tussock (WONS) It as an attractive but unpalatable grass from Mexico and South America. It is a prohibited entry into Australia under the Quarantine Act. It is a Class 1 declared pest plant in Queensland. Noxious weed in NSW, Vic, SA, WA, NT and ACT.

3 MFG has a history of entering Australia 1996 Nursery sales from Sydney Nursery sales near Mount Macedon, Victoria Plantings found at Orange, NSW. 2007/8 Infestation found at Namadgi National Park, ACT Nursery sales throughout Victoria Internet/mail importation South Australia Plantings found in Queensland.

4 How did it get into Queensland?

5 How did it get into horticultural trade? Seed or plant collected in native range France Kew Gardens, UK David Amme 1987 California, USA John Greenlee More collections in wild Enters world wide horticultural trade as Pony Tails

6 How does it get into Australia?

7 How does it get into Australia? Available via the internet from numerous seed merchants Not on the Commonwealth s Permitted seed list. Prohibited entry. Incorrect labeling or name shopping.

8 How did it get into Queensland? In 2007, a Victorian nursery imported seeds as Stipa lessingiana. Resold the plants under a number of other trade names. Situation came to light before Mothers Day in At that time it was believed that no stock had reached the market in Queensland. Detected as a street planting in October Trace back revealed the existence of one tray of 288 tubes

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10 What has Biosecurity Queensland been doing? Conducted an Emergency Response Tracing Retrieval Decontamination Quarantine and monitoring of sites General surveillance Community engagement / awareness Lifting of Quarantine Proof of freedom

11 Retrieval & Decontamination

12 Retrieval & Decontamination

13 Retrieval & Decontamination

14 Retrieval & Decontamination

15 Retrieval & Decontamination

16 Retrieval & Decontamination

17 Where is it now?

18 Where is MFG now? There are 67 unaccounted for plants in Queensland A number of these may have died while on the shelf in various retail outlets. At least 60 plants ended up in garden locations around the centres. Locality No. Longreach 1 Emerald 16 Goondiwindi 3 Kingaroy 4 Biloela 3 Mackay 11 Victoria 10,624 plants originally distributed 147,000 homes inspected 3478 plants unaccounted for Gympie 1 Ipswich 5 Kenmore, Brisbane 12 Rochedale, Brisbane 1 67

19 Where else will it grow?

20 Where else will it grow?

21 How do I recognise MFG? Non-flowering Mexican feather grass is difficult to identify in the field a trained botanist can differentiate it from several closely related species of Stipa. When viewing suspect grasses, look for the following key features:

22 Key Identification Characteristics Densely tufted structure, up to 70 cm tall.

23 Key Identification Characteristics Leaves that roll smoothly between the fingers (like a needle).

24 Key Identification Characteristics Leaves have serrations that can be felt when sliding fingers down the leaf blade

25 Key Identification Characteristics For mature (flowering/seeding) specimens, a long flower spike that resembles a large downy feather.

26 Key Identification Characteristics For mature (flowering/seeding) specimens, seeds have a small pointed tip and a long bent tail.

27 Key Identification Characteristics What to do if you suspect a plant is MFG CALL

28 Thanks to all Grant Telford Haydn Counsell Pam Bowles Jan Diviers Dave Learoyd Tim Beattie Barry Whyte Barry Sullivan Jodie Sipple Bernie Shaw Clyde McGaw Lyn Wilshire Corey Bell Hellen Haapakoski Noel Greiner Sandy Botfield Sarah Pearce Lana Barkmeyer Bruce Wilson Frank Keenan Stephen Cox Earl Sparkes Jef Cummings Steve Csurhes Jane Morton Joe Vitelli John Cross Graham Hardwick

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