Perhaps the main claim to fame of the weeping grass is that it is often recommended as a native lawn substitute.
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Named for its attractive drooping seed-heads, weeping grass is a widespread perennial native grass.
Like most grasses, it is hardly noticed for most of the year - it's only in summer, when its gracefully-arching seed-heads appear, that it attracts attention. These seed-heads are about 15cm long, on slender stems reaching 60cm or more high. They occur mainly from mid-December to mid-January.
In the wild, it sometimes grows to resemble a lawn when it is grazed by kangaroos. It can withstand similar regular mowing when used as a lawn, but mowing will not allow the attractive weeping heads to grow.
Known to botanists as Microlaena stipoides, weeping grass grows in two different-looking forms - tussocky and spreading - with the spreading or rhizomatous form being best for lawns. Its leaves are mostly at ground level and it can form quite a satisfactory lawn, especially when growing in part-shade. This is the more common local form.
The tussocky form is not suitable for lawns because of its clumping habit. This one seems to grow in sandier, slightly drier places than the other. Leaves of weeping grass are valuable food for the caterpillars of several butterflies.
BIRD REPORTS
The first local tawny-crowned honeyeater for a few years has been seen at Mullawallah Wetlands, Lucas where a lone bird was photographed at the end of last month. Two days later, a couple were seen in suburban Wendouree.
The tawny-crowned honeyeater is a rare and irregular visitor to the Ballarat district. At least two of the three birds were juveniles, rather than mature adults.
Also sighted at Mullawallah Wetlands have been three species of crakes and buff-banded rail, which has not been reported locally for a few years.
Drying Lake Learmonth has been visited by a pair of Cape Barren geese. These appear to be rather accustomed to people, so they have probably originated from a property near Clunes where breeding occurs each year.
Other birds recently seen at Lake Learmonth include red-capped plover, sharp-tailed sandpiper, red-necked avocet and golden-headed cisticola.
Pied stilts are numerous, and now able to wade across most of Lake Learmonth. Observations indicate this lake may become dry towards the end of February.
Further afield, a visiting paradise shelduck at Werribee is causing statewide interest. This is a rarity from New Zealand, and might be a first for Victoria.
NATURE QUERIES ANSWERED
I saw this plant at Lerderderg Gorge, in the dry river bed. It looks rather like some kind of gladioli, and it looks too pretty to be a weed. Most of the leaves in the photo are from the surrounding sedges.
H.M., Bacchus Marsh.
You are correct in thinking that this might be a gladiolus. Its name is wild gladiolus, and its botanical name is Gladiolus undulatus.
Its bulbs travel downstream on floodwaters, resulting in its appearance on the edges of many local creeks, rivers and river flats. It is an invasive environmental weed in southern Australia.
Its flowers appear in summer and their creamy-coloured wavy petals are distinctive. The lower part of the stem is red.
It is native to South Africa. Its mature bulbs (corms) are 20-30mm wide.
- Questions and photos are welcome. Send to Roger Thomas at The Courier, PO Box 21, Ballarat, 3353, or email to rthomas@vic.australis.com.au