It is sometimes used as an ornamental garden plant, but readily escapes, and has become
naturalized in the San Francisco area.
N. tenuissima has been described by weed experts as a potential 'disaster for the Australian environment'.
N. tenuissima is also likely to have significant impacts on beef and wool production. It is closely related to serrated tussock (
N. trichotoma) and Chilean needle grass (
N. neesiana), both designated Weeds of National Significance because they displace pasture grasses and produce seeds that contaminate wool. is said to be causing a greater reduction in pasture carrying capacity than any other weed in Australia, yet
N. tenuissima is thought to be capable of occupying 6 times the area predicted for serrated tussock. A similar violation occurred in 1996 when a
Victorian nursery imported the seeds by labelling with an earlier valid scientific name,
Stipa tenuissima.
eBay has banned sale of
N. tenuissima to Australian buyers, but some sellers sell it under the outdated name
S. teniuissima to circumvent the ban.
Biosecurity According to weed experts, the multiple quarantine breaches highlight the critical need for national risk reduction programs to ensure correct labelling, monitor online sales and enforce biosecurity laws to prevent illegal sales. ==References==