Red-leg Grass

Red-leg Grass
Red-leg Grass
Red-leg Grass
Red-leg Grass

Red-leg Grass

Bothriochloa macra

Perennial with a lifespan of 5-25 years. Very drought tolerant and can resprout after fire. Can become the dominant species in native pasture heavily grazed by stock. Often found with Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra in lightly grazed grasslands. Its growth tends to be most vigorous in summer.

 

 
Details Description
Type
Graminoid
Group
Grass
Identifying Characteristics

Low, sprawling, sparse tussock. Slender reddish flowering stems to 1 m tall, giving it the common name Red-leg Grass. Leaves sparsely hairy, green with maroon at the tips and margins during the warmer months. Flowers all year, but mainly from December-April.
Distinctive Features

Dark reddish-purple flower stems and seed heads. Awns (bristles on seeds) up to 20 mm long, twice bent, terminal, brown.
Life Form Group
Graminoid
Life Form Codes
Medium to Small Tufted Graminoid (MTG)
EVC types
EVC 132_61: Heavier-soils Plains Grassland
EVC 132_62: Lighter-soils Plains Grassland
Native Status
Native to Australia
Taxonomy
Phylum
Charophyta
Class
Equisetopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Bothriochloa
Species
macra
Red-leg Grass
Occurs in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Endangered Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.