Forage Tall Fescue

Festuca arundinaceae

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae) is a commonly grown perennial grazing grass that can be troublesome when it germinates outside of a controlled situation. Tall fescue thrives in the cooler weather of spring and autumn, only ceasing growth when temperatures fall close to freezing. The leaves of tall fescue are rolled and shiny below and dull above. They have a blunt ligule and short auricles with a few hairs. The plant tends to grow in a bunched way and the seed heads are tall at around 1 m in height.

Related Pests

Spurrey

Spergula arvensis

Spurrey (Spergula arvensis) is a fine-stemmed, sprawling annual weed which is commonly found throughout New Zealand. It can often grow dense. Severely competing with and smother crop seedlings and establishing pastures. Spurrey germinates in the autumn and spring.

Annual Poa

Poa annua

Annual poa (Poa annua), also known as annual meadow grass, is a fast growing annual grass found throughout New Zealand in a wide range of crops. While individual plants tend to be small, populations of this grass weed tend to be large and they then compete for light, nutrients and water. Poa annua is best identified by the boat shaped tips to its leaves and the two parallel veins (often referred to as tramlines) that can be seen if the leaf blade is bent backwards. Germination takes place throughout the year and is set very quickly meaning populations soon increase.

Lesser Canary Grass

Phalaris minor

Lesser canary grass (Phalaris minor) is originally from the Mediterranean and is now a common, annual grass weed of winter planted cereal crops. Seeds germinate throughout the year with the leaves being non-hairy, rough and long, tapering to a fine point. The ligule is long and finely serrated, auricles are absent. When in ear the short, stubby panicle (1.5 - 6 cm x 1.2 – 2.2 cm) is quite distinct and makes a good identification feature.