Pennisetum setaceum (Forssk.) Chiov., Poaceae

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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 Hawai‘i, "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 Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u 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	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1581)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe 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	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1581)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i 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	O‘ahu 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 Hawai‘i 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).