Hairy Jointgrass - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Arthraxon hispidus

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 07 Aug 2024

Description

Hairy Jointgrass is a creeping grass with branching, erect to semi-erect purplish stems. Leaf-blades are 2–6 cm long, broad at the base and tapering abruptly to a sharp point. Long white hairs project around the edge of the leaf. The seed-heads are held above the plant on a long fine stalk. This grass is considered to be a perennial but it tends to die down in winter.

Distribution

Occurs over a wide area in south-east Queensland, and on the northern tablelands and north coast of NSW, but is never common. Also found from Japan to central Eurasia.

Habitat and ecology

Moisture and shade-loving grass, found in or on the edges of rainforest and in wet eucalypt forest, often near creeks or swamps.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Clearing of habitat for agriculture and development.
Inappropriate fire regimes including too frequent or during summer growing period. Controlled fire during the dormancy period (e.g. winter) appears to play a role in promoting hairy jointgrass populations, but too frequent (more than annual) or intense fire may destroy the residual seed bank.
Over-grazing by domestic stock.
Weed invasion of habitat particularly by exotic pasture grasses and Singapore Daisy increases the level of biomass accumulation. hairy jointgrass is an annual species recruiting in pasture gaps in winter and easily crowded out by an increase in pasture density or biomass.
Too frequent disturbance of hairy jointgrass habitat by slashing or grazing (e.g. more than annually, but not heavy grazing). Certain levels of disturbance can improve species habitat by reducing competitiveness of dominant species and creating recruitment gaps for seedlings of this annual species, but high levels of biomass reduction during its growing season may negatively impact plant cover and therefore seed production.
Altered hydrology (e.g. drying) due to drainage or infilling from urban development. The species favours moisture-associated assemblages in and around wetlands, drainage lines and groundwater seepages including in examples of endangered ecological communities (e.g. freshwater wetlands, carex sedgelands and montane peat swamps)
Prolonged drought can severely impact hairy jointgrass survival leading to low levels of adult plant cover. Although the species’ persistent seed bank may offset cohort loss over a poor season, a series of consecutively dry years may exceed the limits of its resilience.
Lack of land tenure security and the potential for change of land use causing further negative impacts (e.g. changing from low to high intensity cattle grazing, encroaching residential development)
Nutrification due to inappropriate application of herbicides (particularly Tordon and fertilisers) on, or adjacent to species habitats.
Possibly threatened by grazing of young plants by rabbits, deer, pigs and macropods in close proximity to populations

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 10 priority actions to help recover the Hairy Jointgrass in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Protect habitat from frequent fire.
Avoid slashing or mowing around rainforest edges.
Fence habitat remnants to protect from stock.
Control introduced grasses in areas with known populations.
Protect areas of rainforest, wet eucalypt forest and swamp from clearing and development.

Information sources

Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Management Plan - NSW & Queensland. (DECCW NSW, Sydney)
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan.
Jacobs, S.W.L. and Wall, C.A. (1993) Arthraxon. Pp. 434-5 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 4. (New South Wales University Press, Kensington)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Flora. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

New England Tablelands	Deepwater Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Round Mountain	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Tenterfield Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Guy Fawkes	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None

Images

Hairy Jointgrass, Mature stem of plant growing among wetland plants. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/orkology" class="linkBlack100" target="_blank">Greg Steenbeeke, Orkology</a>

Hairy Jointgrass, Mature stem of plant growing among wetland plants. Greg Steenbeeke, Orkology Image 1 of 3.
View slideshow.

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