Crested Dog Tail [Cynosurus cristatus]

Pest Profile

About the weed

It is a short, densely tufted perennial grass, wiry and upright. 5 - 75cm tall. The leaf blades are narrow, fine and pointed. The flowerheads are densely packed with spikelets.

Biology

Crested dog’s-tail was formerly sown as a pasture plant. It remains green all winter, but in the summer the leaves die off.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Life Cycle

Seed weight: 0.5 mg

Seeds/head: 1

Seeds/plant: 1100

Treatment

Management

It does not persist in regularly cultivated soils and can be controlled with hoeing and harrowing.