Scientific Name: Imperata cylindrica

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  • Pronunciation:
    im-per-RAH-tah sil-in-DREE-cah
  • Common Name:
    Blady Grass
  • Derivation:
    Imperata: named to honour Italian apothecary and botanist Ferante Imperato (1550-1625). From L. imperator - emperor. |cylindrica:
  • Type:
    Herb , Grass
  • Family:
    POACEAE
  • Flowers:
    Seedhead is a panicle up to 20cm long. Spikelets partly hidden by fine, white, silky hairs that aid in seed dispersal.
  • Vegetation Type:
    Wallum Woodland, Thrives in areas ravaged by burning.
  • Species List:
    Weyba Esp, Arthur Harrold NR,W2, Bush food, Craft, Peregian Boardwalk, Coolum High, Wooroi Day Use Area Tracks, St. Teresa's, Meridan College, Old Tewantin, Upper Mt. Tinbeerwah, Tewantin Forest Gyndier, Grass book, Mill Point, Johns, Cooroibah Conservation Park, Cooroibah Bushland Reserve, Batianoff, Cranks Creek, Leslie Drive Roundabout, Noosa North Shore PS, TAFE Noosa Banks BHNR Marcus Dunes Girraween, NNS, Wallace Park, Lake Cooroibah, Heritage Park, Botany 07
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Bush food: fibrous (underground) stems nibbled and sucked for sugary juice.

Leaves used for weaving dillies.

Paper industry using this plant in Eumundi area in early 1900's

Horse collars made on the Sunshine Coast were stuffed with Blady Grass

Identification Notes

Strongly rhizomatous, |Leaves mostly basal, erect, hairless, prominent stiff midrib, margins with tiny cutting teeth

Associated Fauna

Butterfly host plant: Dingy darter, Greenish darter, Orange ringlet, Evening brown.