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In order to supplement U.S. production, tall fescue seed from Argentina was imported. It was the tall fescue from Argentina that was found to be contaminated with serrated tussock.
Serrated tussock is native to South America, but it has spread to New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia, where an estimated five million acres are quarantined. It is a perennial with a deep, fibrous root system. Stems are erect with long, rough, serrated blades. The flowering stalks are slender, slightly longer than the leaves.
As the seed ripens, the stalk becomes very brittle, breaks off and the entire seed head tumbles about, distributing seed. It is estimated one plant will produce 227 million seeds. It is toxic to sheep. The cell walls are so constructed that the digestive system of an animal will not break it down. Consequently, it has no feed value.
By quarantining serrated tussock, Virginia’s action is similar to that of other states that have either issued a quarantine or have taken emergency measures to add it to their prohibited noxious weed seed list.
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