Aussie Finch Forum

Finally I have mastered the art of posting pictures to AFF
I have grasses that I've been propagating for the last 18 months and still I'm unable to put scientific names to them .
I have included pictures of the seed heads and grass itself in the hope of a positive ID .
Id really appreciate any botanical assistance .
Type 1I found growing in my mates back yard and to date is devoured by all in the colony
Type 2 I found growing in the grass at the park across the way
Type 3 & 4 I propagated from seeds out of a swamp grass pack ... also got windmill out of that pack
Type 5 is a "sample" from an unspecified location that houses exotic animals
Also included is a comparison of green panic and type 5 , however the seed heads on type 5 are now much larger .
Look forward to hearing from AFF green thumbs .
Cheers ,
Brad

Type 5 looks like Gatton Panic.

Tiaris wrote:Type 5 looks like Gatton Panic.

Definitely not Guinea Grass

Type 5 is Guinea Grass
Type 2 is known as Rats-Tails
as I have no green thumb, scientific names are foreign to me

Tiaris wrote:Type 5 looks like Gatton Panic.

It has a velvety feel to the leaves if that helps at all ?
Thanks for the replies so far guys

Bmac27 wrote:

Tiaris wrote:Type 5 looks like Gatton Panic.

It has a velvety feel to the leaves

Definitely not Guinea Grass

KENTUCKY wrote:Type 5 is Guinea Grass
Type 2 is known as Rats-Tails
as I have no green thumb, scientific names are foreign to me

As above plus type 4 is swamp/November grass,type 3 looks like pannic velt grass. Craig

Has/does anyone use/d Rats Tail Grass ?
Im assuming its safe for birds as the majority of the seed heads were stripped of seed ?
Ive attached a more recent pic of type 5 .
Cheers guys

Yes it still looks like guinea grass at its seasons end and New Guinea palm grass in the pot beside it. Craig

Rats Tail / Parramatta Grass, (use to be Sporobolus africanas/ indica, but that was in the mid 90's) is in a lot of parts a declared noxious weed, originally used for grazing, cattle only eat it when it is young, & only if there's nothing else to eat, very tough. If it is on you property I would get rid or it ASAP, the seeds are very sticky & will stick to fur/feathers, clothes ect. & spreads very quickly. Best to cut off the seed heads, burn or put in a plastic bag in the bin & dig out or poison the plants.

Type 1 looks like crows foot, I've not seen birds eat it, & is a pain in lawns.

Type 4 looks like what I call sweet panic, not sure of the botanical name, but is a native, & so will eat it, some won't, but those that don't will use it for nesting.