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Poa tenera

Slender Tussock-grass

Slender bright green trailing perennial, trailing branches rooting at nodes. Flowering stems weakly erect.

Additional information

  • FamilyPoaceae
  • StoreyLower storey
  • Size5-20 cm high
  • Plant groupingGrasses, Rushes & Sedges
  • LeavesSmooth, thin folded or inrolled leaves, to 20 cm x 1.5 mm, veins becoming raised as leaf dries. Sheath pale, occasionally red to purple.
  • Flower colourPale green
  • Flowering timeOctober to January
  • FlowersSparse pyramidal flowerhead, to 8 cm x 6 cm, 2-4-flowered spikelets; lower bracts 3-veined, lower floral bract with 5 distinct veins, shortly downy to hairless on lower part, web weak or absent;
  • Bird attractingSeeds, habitat - nesting materials
  • Butterfly attractingFood plant for caterpillars
  • Frog habitatYes
  • Growing conditionsMoist soils in shady forests and riparian scrubs along watercourses. Semi shade to dappled shade.
  • Garden useAn attractive bright grass useful as a groundcover in moist areas, especially on embankments. Flowerheads are beautiful with the sun behind them.
  • Commercially availableIndigenous nursery
  • Conservation statusLocally common within its preferred growing conditions
Photographer/s: 1, 3-5 Marilyn Bull ©; 2 Peter Kinchington ©

Plant Communities

  • 01 Alpine Ash Montane Damp Forest (EVC 38)
  • 15 Scented Paperbark Riparian Thicket - Middle & Upper Yarra (EVC 59)
  • 04 Alpine Ash Montane Wet Forest (EVC 39)
  • 16 Messmate Shrubby Foothill Forest Central Highlands/UpperYarra (EVC 45)
  • 05 Mountain Ash Forest - Central Highlands (EVC 30)
  • 18 Messmate Shrubby Foothill Forest - Dandenongs (EVC 45)
  • 06 Mountain Ash Wet Forest - Dandenongs (EVC 30)
  • 22 Silver-leaf Stringybark Heathy Woodland (EVC 48)
  • 07 Mountain Grey Gum Damp Forest - Central Highlands (EVC 29)
  • 30 Swamp Gum Swampy Riparian Woodland (EVC 83)
  • 08 Mountain Grey Gum Damp Forest – Dandenongs (EVC 29)
  • 32 Silvertop Ash Shrubby Foothill Forest (EVC 45)
  • 09 Myrtle Beech Cool Temperate rainforest (EVC31)
  • 33 Mountain Swamp Gum Swampy Riparian Woodland (EVC 83)
  • 11 Manna Gum Riparian Forest - Central Highlands (EVC 18)
  • 34 Manna Gum Floodplain Riparian Woodland (EVC 56)
  • 12 Manna Gum Riparian Forest - Dandenongs (EVC 18)
  • 36 Scented Paperbark Riparian Thicket – Central Highlands (EVC 59)
  • 13 Manna Gum Riparian Forest - Upper Yarra (EVC 18)
  • 38 Yellow Box Valley Grassy Forest – Middle Yarra (EVC 47)
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