(Forssk.) Chiov., Poaceae |
|
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Risk assessment results:
High risk, score: 26 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))
Reject, score: 20 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S. (Florida)))
Other Latin names: Cenchrus setaceus (Forssk.) Morrone; Pennisetum ruppelii Steud.
Common name(s): [more details]
English: African fountain grass, fountain grass |
Habit: grass
Description: "Sparsely branching, tufted perennial [grass] 0.2-1 m high with feathery (bristly), spike-like inflorescences, the bristles long and detaching with the spikelets. Leaves: Up to 40 mm long x 3 mm wide, not rigid or ending in sharp points. Inflorescence: Cylindrical, 100-250 mm long or more, usually purple or rose-colored, bristles about 20 mm long. Fruits: Seeds" (Henderson, 1995; p. 28).
Description from GrassBase.
Habitat/ecology: Dry forest, roadsides, grasslands, lava fields. This bunchgrass is a noxious weed, crowding out other herbs and seedlings. It is a fire-stimulated grass which carries intense fires throughout its range (Smith, 1985; p. 198). "Adapted to harsh conditions, it thrives on unweathered lava flows, exposed subsoil, fire-prone areas, and droughty climatic zones" (Motooka et al., 2003). "Grass- and woodland, coastal dunes, desert scrub. A very fire and drought tolerant bunch grass that displaces native grassland communities where invasive. It forms thick stands that impede growth and regeneration of native plants, completely eliminating the native vegetation in time. It promotes fires by accumulation of large quantities o dead biomass, and the grass spreads as a result of fires because it rapidly colonizes burned areas" (Weber, 2003; p. 314).
In Hawaii, "cultivated and naturalized in dry, pen places such as barren lava flows and cinder fields, 40-2,140 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1581). In New Caledonia, "cultivé comme ornemental dans les jardins; aussi spontané et envahissant" (MacKee, 1994; p. 61).
Propagation: The seeds are dispersed by wind. A prolific seed producer.
Native range: Africa.
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
American Samoa
Manua Islands |
Tau Island |
cultivated
|
Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 24)
Cultivated ornamental. Voucher cited: Yuncker 9214 (BISH) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Kosrae Island |
Kosrae Island |
National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2005) (voucher ID: PTBG 47450)
Taxon name on voucher: Pennisetum setaceum |
|
Fiji
Fiji Islands |
Viti Levu Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 359)
Vouchers cited: DA 16225, DA 12303 Semi-naturalized. |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Hiva Oa Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 2618 (PAP) Ornementale assez commune à Tahiti. |
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands |
Rurutu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Cultivée |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
introduced
|
Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 95)
"Potential invader". |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. 3) |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
cultivated
|
Space, Jim (2004)
Observed in cultivation (J. Space). |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Hawaii (Big) Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1581) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Kahoolawe Island |
introduced
invasive |
Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2006) (p. 39)
Subject of an eradication program. Voucher cited: Starr, Starr, Higashino & Andrade 040216-1 (BISH) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Kauai Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1581) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Lānai Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1581)
Voucher cited: Munro 345 (BISH) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Maui Island |
introduced
invasive |
Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2006) (p. 39)
East Maui. Subjest of an eradication program. Vouchers cited: Starr & Martz 011121-1 (BISH), Starr, Starr & MISC 040106-1 (BISH) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Oahu Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1581) |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia |
New Caledonia Islands |
introduced
invasive |
Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia |
New Caledonia Islands |
introduced
invasive |
Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 381)
Envahissante. |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago |
Île Grande Terre |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 61)
Voucher cited: MacKee 42195 |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Babeldaob Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 14, 86) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Ngerkebesang Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 14, 82) |
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
New South Wales |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 186) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Queensland |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 186) |
Indonesia
Indonesia |
Indonesia (Republic of) | Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 116) | |
New Zealand
New Zealand |
New Zealand (country) |
introduced
invasive |
Owen, S. J. (1997) |
New Zealand
New Zealand |
New Zealand (country) |
introduced
invasive |
Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 578)
"Escape from cultivation; on roadsides". |
Singapore
Singapore |
Singapore (Republic of) |
introduced
cultivated |
Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 67)
Cultivated only |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (Oregon) |
introduced
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (California) |
introduced
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) |
Also reported from | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Canary Islands
Canary Islands |
Canary Islands |
introduced
invasive |
Lorence, David (year unknown) |
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states) |
USA (Florida) |
introduced
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) |
Comments: On the State of Hawaii and New Zealand noxious weed lists. Very invasive in the Canary Islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) per David Lorence (personal communication).
Control: Herbicides must be used on all except isolated plants.
Physical: "The only practical management is probably by intensive grazing management in pastures and perhaps by replanting trees in dryland forests. Unpalatable to cattle except for young shoots" (Motooka et al., 2003).
Chemical:" Sensitive to glyphosate applied by spraying and by the drizzle method. HAVO staff reported control with hexazinone at 10-20% of liquid concentrate applied to wet the green foliage (Zimmer, HAVO)" (Motooka et al., 2003).
"1. Weed wipe: glyphosate (200ml/L) or Gallant (200ml/L). 2. Spray (spring-summer): glyphosate (15ml/L) + penetrant. 3. Slash and spray regrowth (spring-autumn): Gallant (150ml/10L)" (Weedbusters New Zealand).