UNWANTED GRASS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29682, 28 November 1961, Page 15

UNWANTED GRASS

Discovery In Northland Press Association) WHANGAREI. Nov. 27. After a report of an undesirable tropical grass in the Kerikeri district, Department of Agriculture officials have established the presence of imperata cylindrica, more generally known as lalang or blade grass. Lalang is one of the worst and most expensive weeds to deal with in South-east Asia, and it also occurs in Fiji and Australia. The grass was discovered when a sample was included in the work book of a Bay of Islands Massey College student. In the last week, Mr E. A. Madden (agrostologist of the Department of Agriculture, Palm e r s t o n North), accompanied by the department's farm advisory officer (Mr W. J. Burns, of Kaikohe), made an inspection of the suspected areas. The grass was identified by Mr Madden. Mr Madden describes the grass as a tall-growing, harsh grass with a dense mass of underground creeping stems —a vigorous and spreading couch grass. It seeds prolifically, but establishment from seed is not as great as might be imagined from the number of seeds produced. It can withstand dense shade, as in rubber plantations, and thrives equally well in open and exposed sunny situations. Mr Burns said that two areas had been found, but in both cases the weed appeared to be controlled by stock. “Its locations are such that there does not appear to be any immediate danger of invasion of the citrus growing area,” he said.