Poaceae

Cortaderia species

Common Names: Pampas grass

Plant Form: Very large perennial tussock grass. Size: Up to 6 m tall. Stem: Tall, upright, in dense clusters. Leaves: Drooping, up to 2 m long, with serrated edges, bluish to bright green above and dark to bright green below. Flowers: Large feathery plumes, white to brownish or pinkish, with silky hairs, up to 1 m long on stems, many flowers per plume. Fruit and Seeds: Huge numbers of tiny 2-3 mm long seeds in plumes. Habitat: Roadsides, railway lines, timber plantations, swamps, riverbanks. Distinguishing Features: Large fluffy plumes distinguish from native Saw sedges (Gahnia species). Does not have a bamboo-like stem compared to Native Common reed (Phragmites australis) and introduced Giant reed (Arundo donax). Impacts: Outcompetes native species and alters ecosystems, increases fire risk.