C.N. JACOBSEN

Formerly Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Emerald, Qld. 4720.

Abstract

This review concentrates on the distribution and use within Queensland of the species of Dichanthium which occur widely over the north-eastern half of Australia. They are dominant members of natural open grassland areas developed on heavier textured, relatively fertile soils, where they form a valuable pastoral resource.
Perhaps the best known species is the subtropical D. sericeum (Queensland bluegrass) which is a variable, free seeding, drought avoiding plant with germination mechanisms that enable it to, readily recolonise fertile, heavy clay soils. The tropical D. fecundum (Gulf bluegrass) on the other hand, is adapted to clay soils characterised by very low phosphorus levels.
All species are summer growing, essentially winter dormant types considered as valuable pasture grasses where they occur naturally. The review highlights the, paucity of quantitative data on these plants.