Australian Salt-grass - profile

Scientific name: Distichlis distichophylla 
 Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Description

Australian Salt-grass is a spreading perennial grass, in the form of a loose, somewhat prickly clump of spreading underground stems (rhizomes). The foliage is distinctive, with a row of thin stiff leaves to 50 mm on each side of the stem. It often grows with a similar-looking grass Sporobolus virginicus, and is best-distinguished in summer when in flower or fruit.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 This grass is common in Victoria and Tasmania, and extends to South Australia and Western Australia. In Victoria it is found inland as well, but in its limited NSW range it grows only in coastal situations, except for one existing population at Lake Cargellico. Scattered records are from the areas of Jervis Bay, Bermagui, Wonboyn, Narooma, Bodalla and Nadgee Nature Reserve (at Womboyn).

• A coloniser of damp saline soils; found at the edges of salt marshes and on low dunes.
• Flowers and sets seed in late spring and summer.

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Lachlan
• Southern Rivers

Threats

• Habitat damage associated with recreational vehicles.
• Habitat may be lost to coastal development.
• Trampling by cattle.
• Modified tidal flows (e.g. associated with opening and closing of estuaries).
• Land reclamation for agricultural and infrastructural purposes.
• Rubbish dumping and marine pollution.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 3 priority actions to help recover the Australian Salt-grass in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Ensure that management of this species is considered in estuary management plans
• Prevent vehicle movement in salt marsh areas, or in areas where the species is known to exist.
• Prevent trampling by cattle.
• Weed control.
• Monitor populations for the presence of weeds, pollution and rubbish, and act to remove threats when observed.
• Ensure that known populations and potential habitat appear on development planning maps.

References

• Harden G.J. (ed.) (1993). Flora of New South Wales Vol. 4. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
• NSW Scientific Committee (2000) Distichlis distichophylla (a grass) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
• Society for Growing Australian Plants, Maroondah (1993). Flora of Melbourne; a guide to the indigenous plants of the Greater Melbourne Area. Hyland House, South Melbourne.
• Walsh N.G. and Entwisle T.J. (1994). Flora of Victoria; Volume 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons. Inkata Press, Melbourne.