Habitat: bank, coast, flat , forest edge, hill, lake margin, margin, moist, open, pasture, peat, riparian, roadside, silt, terrace, unstable/eroded, wetland

Dispersal: Seed, vegetative

Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
 Recognition
  • a large and long-lived grass with upright flowering stems growing 1-2.5 m tall.
  • these flowering stems are hollow, hairless, and ribbed lengthwise.
  • it also spreads laterally via long creeping underground stems.
  • its large leaves (20-60 cm long and 7-20 mm wide) are flat with a prominent midvein.
  • its seed-head is an open panicle (12-45 cm long) bearing numerous small flower spikelets (5-12 mm long).
  • each flower spikelet has 3-10 tiny flowers, which separate from each other at maturity.
 Images
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand
 References
Biosecurity New Zealand 2012: Regional Pest Management Strategies Database. http://www.biosecurityperformance.maf.govt.nz/
Connor, H.E. 1977: The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.