Biosecurity teams have discovered Gamba Grass in the Douglas Shire for the first time in more than 10 years.
The infestation was small and hopefully has not spread to any other locations in the Shire.
Gamba grass is a perennial species introduced from Africa. It has many cultivars which have the following key features:
- Mature plants grow up to 4 m tall with tussocks up to 70 cm in diameter.
- Leaves are 30–60 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, with a distinctive white midrib and covered with soft hairs.
- Stems are robust and covered in soft hairs.
- The root system spreads up to 1 m from the tussock, close to the soil surface.
- It reproduces from seed.
- Seeds are contained in a fluffy V-shaped seed head consisting of up to six groups of branches, each containing 2–18 primary branches.
Gamba grass is a restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014. It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit.
The Act requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants and animals under their control.
This is called a General Biosecurity Obligation (GBO). For further information, please follow visit the Queensland Government website here: https://bit.ly/2ldTryt
