African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)

Key facts

Type: Weed, grass.

Native to: Southern Africa.

Established in: QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA.

Identification

• Dense tussock to 1.2 m tall with fine, often curled leaves.
• Leaf bases are hairy, and old leaves curl at the base.
• Open, grey-green to lead-coloured seed heads.

Where it grows

Roadsides, pasture, rail corridors and disturbed land on light soils.

Why it matters

• Low palatability lowers carrying capacity.
• Displaces native grasses.
• Increases fuel loads.

How it spreads

• Tiny seeds moved by slashers, graders, vehicles, livestock and hay.

Control options

• Spot spray or chip isolated plants.
• Pasture improvement and grazing management on larger areas.
• Avoid slashing when seed is present.

Hygiene and washdown

• Clean roadside slashers and graders before moving to clean areas.
• Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
• Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
• Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

• Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
• Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
• New South Wales: Regional priority in 1 of 11 regions. Regional priority weed in Hunter. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
• Victoria: Regionally controlled / regionally restricted weed (varies by region). Where it is regionally controlled, landowners must take all reasonable steps to prevent its growth and spread on their land. Where it is a restricted weed, trade in it (including the plant, its seed or contaminated material) is prohibited.
• South Australia: Declared plant. Depending on the declaration, it can be an offence to move it on public roads or sell it, and landowners may be required to control it on their land.
• Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
• Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
• Northern Territory: Check NT list. There is no NT weed profile for it. Check the NT declared weeds list for its current status.
• Australian Capital Territory: Declared pest. It is a declared pest throughout the ACT.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

• Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
• New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
• Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
• Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
• Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
• South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board
• Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources

• African lovegrass profile, Weeds Australia, Centre for Invasive Species Solutions: https://weeds.org.au/profiles/african-lovegrass-weeping/