Nature conservation

Threatened species

Bluegrass - 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: Dichanthium setosum
Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
Commonwealth status: Vulnerable
Profile last updated: 20 Dec 2023

Description

Bluegrass is an upright grass less than 1 m tall. It has mostly hairless leaves about 2-3 mm wide. The flowers are densely hairy and are clustered together along a stalk in a cylinder-shape. The flower-clusters grow in pairs at the end of an 8 cm-long stem and appear mostly during summer.

Distribution

Bluegrass occurs on the New England Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains and the Central Western Slopes of NSW, extending to northern Queensland. It occurs widely on private property, including in the Inverell, Guyra, Armidale and Glen Innes areas.

Habitat and ecology

  • Flowering time is mostly in summer.
  • Associated with heavy basaltic black soils and red-brown loams with clay subsoil.
  • Often found in moderately disturbed areas such as cleared woodland, grassy roadside remnants and highly disturbed pasture. (Often collected from disturbed open grassy woodlands on the northern tablelands, where the habitat has been variously grazed, nutrient-enriched and water-enriched). It is open to question whether the species tolerates or is promoted by a certain amount of disturbance, or whether this is indicative of the threatening processes behind its depleted habitat.
  • Associated species include Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Eucalyptus melliodora, Eucalyptus viminalis, Myoporum debile, Aristida ramosa, Themeda triandra, Poa sieberiana, Bothriochloa ambigua, Medicago minima, Leptorhynchos squamatus, Lomandra aff. longifolia, Ajuga australis, Calotis hispidula and Austrodanthonia, Dichopogon, Brachyscome, Vittadinia, Wahlenbergia and Psoralea species.
  • Locally common or found as scattered clumps in broader populations. The extensive distribution and wide environmental tolerances make predictions about suitable habitat difficult.

Regional distribution and habitat

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


Threats

Recovery strategies

Activities to assist this species

Information sources

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
Brigalow Belt SouthLiverpool Plains Known None
Brigalow Belt SouthLiverpool Range Known None
Brigalow Belt SouthNorthern Basalts Known None
Brigalow Belt SouthNorthern Outwash Known None
Brigalow Belt SouthPilliga Known None
Brigalow Belt SouthPilliga Outwash Predicted None
Brigalow Belt SouthTalbragar Valley Known None
Darling Riverine PlainsBogan-Macquarie Known None
NandewarInverell Basalts Known None
NandewarKaputar Known None
NandewarNandewar Northern Complex Known None
NandewarPeel Known None
New England TablelandsArmidale Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsBundarra Downs Known None
New England TablelandsDeepwater Downs Predicted None
New England TablelandsEastern Nandewars Predicted None
New England TablelandsGlenn Innes-Guyra Basalts Known None
New England TablelandsMoredun Volcanics Known None
New England TablelandsNightcap Predicted None
New England TablelandsNortheast Forest Lands Known None
New England TablelandsSevern River Volcanics Known None
New England TablelandsStanthorpe Plateau Predicted None
New England TablelandsTingha Plateau Predicted None
New England TablelandsWalcha Plateau Known None
New England TablelandsWongwibinda Plateau Known None
NSW North CoastDalmorton Known None
NSW North CoastMacleay Gorges Predicted None
NSW North CoastTomalla Known None
NSW South Western SlopesInland Slopes Known None
South Eastern QueenslandWoodenbong Known None