Toetoe: A case of Mistaken Identity

This is the first in a series of articles designed to acquaint you with some of the invasive weeds in our local environment, and how we might deal with them.

Author: Glenn Clark

Glenn is one of the team of avid weed-busters in the Wairahi Tracks Charitable Trust, and a self-confessed victim of “weed-vision” (a condition in which you notice weeds - everywhere).

I’d bet most of you are currently admiring the profusion of pretty, feathery flowers around the area, commonly known as “Prince of Wales Feathers” or “Cutty Grass”, but (and here’s the rub) often mistakenly referred to as toetoe.

Most of the flowering grasses you’re currently (autumn) seeing is actually pampas grass – one the most invasive weeds in this part of the country.

Above is the “magnificent” swathe of pampas grass at the end of the beach in Lang Cove - unfortunately it is NOT toetoe!

Pampas grass comes from South America and was introduced to New Zealand by early settlers mainly for shelter belts, but also as stock fodder. However, like many introduced plants, it has become invasive, spreading into native forest and wetlands. Female plants produce millions of seeds which can travel up to 25 kilometres. Pampas grass was declared a pest plant in 2001 and is banned nationally from being sold, propagated or distributed (including in floral displays).

While it has a certain visual appeal, pampas is extremely invasive, smothering and preventing native trees and bushes from re-establishing on disturbed or open ground – you often see it on roadsides and in areas where forests have been cleared. It is a popular habitat for rats and mice and can be a fire risk when dry in summer.

Toetoe is our native grass, endemic to New Zealand, and at a glance is quite difficult to distinguish from pampas grass.
However there are some noticeable differences (described later in this article), and despite originally having been classified in the same genus as pampas (Cortaderia), toetoe has recently assigned its own genus: Austroderia.

In the Langs Beach Scenic Reserve, the Trust has successfully removed swathes of pampas from along the banks of the wetland and some specimens of toetoe have been included in the replanting of areas cleared of weeds.

You can see examples of toetoe that have been planted by the Trust: on your left as you leave Langs heading south, in the roadside planting along Cove Road.

Significance of toetoe to Māori

Toetoe was used by Māori for thatching and in tukutuku panels for lining the roof and walls of whare.
It was also used in cooking, for making raupō bread, and baskets woven from toetoe stalks (kākaho) were used when cooking in boiling water or steam (as an alternative to flax which tended to taint the flavour of the food).
Toetoe was used medicinally to treat diarrhea, kidney complaints and burns.
Toetoe flowers were used ceremoniously in sea voyages upon reaching land.

How can you tell the difference?

Toetoe and pampas look very similar, but there are differences that allow you to distinguish them.

Toetoe:

• Flowers from September through to January

• Gracefully drooping flower heads are light golden colour and the stalks (culms) tend to be thinner.

• Dead leaves don’t curl but lie flat on the ground

• Leaves have distinct secondary veins between midrib and edge

• Leaves don’t snap readily

Pampas Grass:

• Pampas flowers later than toetoe - from January to June

• Flower heads are erect, dense, fluffy, white-pinkish which fade to a dirty white as seed forms

• Dead leaves curl up like wood-shavings at the base of the plant

• Leaves have a conspicuous single mid-rib that doesn’t run all the way to the base of the leaf

• Leaves snap readily when folded and/or tugged

Failsafe method:

Probably the easiest way to identify pampas is by the “wood shavings” that appear at the base where the dead leaves curl up.

Toetoe leaves don’t curl like that

If you aren’t sure if it’s pampas or toetoe, get in touch with the author and we’ll be happy to come and help you identify it and talk about practical ways to deal with it.

Control of Pampas

As with any invasive weed – it’s worth thinking seriously about dealing to it, especially if it hasn’t become too well established, as you can prevent it spreading!

First and most importantly, make sure it is pampas you are going to attack and not the native toetoe (see section above on the differences).

There are only two effective measures you can take: physical removal or spray with herbicide.

• Physical removal:

  • Emerging seedlings can easily be pulled out by hand
    - grasp firmly at the base and pull – try and ensure the roots have come out.

  • Medium size plants have shallow roots and can usually be removed using a grubber or spade.

  • Larger plants may require spraying – or heavy machinery and may be worth engaging a contractor.

• Spraying

  • Readily available herbicides such as Roundup (Glyphosate) are quite effective on pampas – but must be safely handled and applied. Please contact the Trust for help if you want advice on this approach – or check the details on the Weedbusters link below if you’re comfortable doing it yourself.

Once dead, pampas plants can be left to decompose and will eventually “melt” away over 1-2 years. But be watchful for re-infestations and be ready to spray regrowth.

Want to know more?

Here’s some links to interesting information about pampas and toetoe

• Weedbusters (identifying and removing pampas)

• Manaaki Whenua (Maori Plant Use of toetoe)

• MPI Website – Research into sustainable bio-control of pampas

• NZ Plant Conservation Network – Austroderia Toetoe

• Wikipedia (Austroderia species)

To appreciate the national scale of the issue with weeds in NZ, you may care to take a look at the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s recently published report: “Space invaders: A review of how New Zealand manages weeds that threaten native ecosystems”.

And for the budding botanists:

• Pampas (Cortaderia): Two varieties found in NZ:

  • Common Pampas (Cortaderia selloana)

  • Purple pampas (Cortaderia jubata)

• Toetoe (Austroderia: Five varieties:

  • Austroderia fulvida (North + South Islands)

  • Austroderia richardii (North + South Islands; naturalised in Tasmania)

  • Austroderia splendens (coastal parts of North Is)

  • Austroderia toetoe (North Island)

  • Austroderia turbaria (Chatham Islands)

Want to know more?

You can contact Glenn for any advice on weeds and how to deal with them at glenn@wairahitracks.nz