A new potentially invasive grass was documented in Okaloosa County this week.  This weed is Australian Beardgrass, Bothriochloa bladhii.  This grass had previously been reported only in central and south Florida.  This record in Okaloosa County now means that this grass has spread unnoticed to other areas of the state.  The Florida Invasive Species Council has this weed on their Watch List.

The first vouchered specimen on file was from 1979 in Alachua County so it is well established there.  It spread from there with specimens from surrounding central Florida counties as well as a couple of south Florida counties.  This is the first record from a Northwest Florida county.

Australian Beardgrass grows 20-59 inches tall when undisturbed.  It is a perennial grass that flowers August through November.  The leaves and the seedheads have a distinct odor when crushed.  The seedheads are reddish purple in color in the fall.

The ligules are very hairy.  The stems have nodes that are also hairy.  The plant reproduces via short rhizomes and seeds.  The seedhead is 2-6 inches long with several branches.  This plant thrives in Florida’s low organic matter and slightly acidic soils.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here are some pictures to help you identify this grass:

For more information about Australian Beardgrass, click here.

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