Ehrharta villosa
Common name
pyp grass
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Grasses
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
EHRVIL
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial. Short tussockland, herbfield, bare land, wetland, mainly on coastline, sand dunes.
Detailed description
Strongly rhizomatous perennial grass to 1.5 m tall. Stems cane-like, erect. Leaves short, rolled. Seedhead a slender panicle, 10–20 cm long. Seeds purplish.
Similar taxa
It is the only strongly rhizomatous Ehrharta species in New Zealand.
Flowering
October, November, December, January
Fruiting
Spring–summer
Life cycle
Perennial.
Year naturalised
1990
Origin
Sth Africa
Reason for introduction
Agricultural
Etymology
villosa: From Latin (villus) meaning shaggy or hairy.
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.