Also tussac, -ack.
1. One or other of several grasses of the Southern Hemisphere; esp. (a) Poa flabellata (formerly Dactylis cæspitosa), a tall-growing valuable grass of the Falkland Islands and Patagonia; (b) Lomandra longifolia of Australia (N.O. Juncaceæ); (c) various New Zealand species of Arundo and Poa.
1842. Guernsey Star, 15 Sept. The splendid Tussack Grass is the gold and glory of the Falkland Islands. Every animal there feeds upon it … and fattens in a short time. The blades are about six foot long, and from 200 to 300 shoots spring from one plant.
1845. Lindley, Veg. Kingd. (1846), 113. Attention has lately been directed to the Tussac-grass of the Falklands, Festuca fabellata, a species forming tufts 5 or 6 feet high.
1866. Treas. Bot., 550. Tussac or Tussock [Grass], Dactylis cæspitosa.
1878. J. Buller, N. Zealand, I. Introd. 9. It is generally … covered with either forest, tall fern or tussock-grass.
1880. Buchanan, Grasses N. Zealand, Tab. xxvii. & xxviii. Arundo conspicua … A fulvida, plumed tussac grass.
1884. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Melbourne Mem., v. 38. The roof was neatly thatched with the tall, strong tussock-grass.
1906. Cheesman, N. Zealand Flora, 908. Poa caespitosa, Tussock grass.
2. The tufted hair-grass, Aira cæspitosa, or other native grass growing in tussocks.
1850. G. H. K., in Vac. Tour., 117. Her cozy lair, amongst the sweet bog myrtle and warm tussock grass. Ibid., 134. The splashy moor, too wet to grow heather,… covered with tufts of coarse tussock grass.
1861. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., VI. 73. Tufted Hair-grass … is commonly known … by the name of Hassock or Tussack-grass.
