Pennisetum glaucum (PIER species info)

Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Pennisetum glaucum
(L.) R.Br., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands? yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations? no

Risk assessment results:

High risk, score: 12 (Go to the risk assessment).
var. 'purple majesty' Low risk (based on second screen), score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names: Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone; Panicum glaucum L.; Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke; Pennisetum spicatum (L.) Körn.; Pennisetum typhoides (Burm. f.) Stapf & C. E. Hubb.; Pennisetum typhoideum Rich.; Setaria glauca (L.) P. Beauv.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: yu gu

English: bulrush millet, burr bristle grass, cat's tail grass, cattail millet, mongoose tail grass, pale pigeongrass, pearl millet, yellow bristle grass, yellow foxtail

French: mil à chandelle, mil chandelle, millet à chandelles, millet perle, pénicillaire, petit mil, sétaire glauque

Hindi: bajra

Japanese: kin-enokoro

Spanish: almorejo glauco, cola de zorra amarilla, hopillo, limpio frasco, mijo negro, rabo de zorro

Tongan: tetefa

Habit: grass

Description: "Annual, in tufted clumps, the culms slender, 15-75 cm high; leaf blades linear or linear-lanceolate, 5-30 cm long, 3-10 mm broad, glabrous or with some long white hairs toward base on upper surface; spike erect, cylindric, golden-brown in color, 1-15 cm long, 6-12 mm broad; spikelets broadly oblong, 3-3.5 mm long, the upper lemma rugose; spikelets subtended by 4-12 bristles in each involucre, these 3-10 mm long, finely antrorsely scabrous" (Smith, 1979; pp. 347-348).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology: In Fiji, "a very common grass found from sea level to an elevation of several hundred meters along roadsides and tracks, in cultivated areas such as rice fields, on dry open hillsides and open rocky places, in swampy areas, and on the inner edges of mangrove swamps. ...a weed of cultivation and waste places." (Smith, 1979; pp. 347-348). In New Caledonia, "commun comme mauvaise herbe" (MacKee, 1994; p. 62).

Propagation: Seed

Native range: "Warmer parts of the north temperate zone of the Old World, but now widely distributed in America, Australia, and the tropical areas of the Old World" (Smith, 1979; pp. 347-348).

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 Whistler, W. A. (1990)
Voucher cited: Whistler 3184

American Samoa
Manu‘a Islands Ta‘u Island National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 9105)
Taxon name on voucher: Setaria glauca

American Samoa
Tutuila Islands Tutuila Island Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)

American Samoa
Tutuila Islands Tutuila Island Anon. (1988)

American Samoa
Tutuila Islands Tutuila Island National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1994) (voucher ID: PTBG 26892)
Taxon name on voucher: Setaria glauca

American Samoa
Tutuila Islands Tutuila Island National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1993) (voucher ID: PTBG 27474)
Taxon name on voucher: Setaria glauca

Fiji
Fiji Islands Kandavu Island introduced
invasive
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350)
As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: DA 9071

Fiji
Fiji Islands Nggamea Island introduced
invasive
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350)
As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: DA 8984

Fiji
Fiji Islands Ovalau Island introduced
invasive
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350)
As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: Bryan 609

Fiji
Fiji Islands Taveuni Island introduced
invasive
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350)
As Setaria glauca. Vouchers cited: Smith 8125, DA 8909, DA 8910

Fiji
Fiji Islands Vanua Levu Island introduced
invasive
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350)
As Setaria glauca. Vouchers cited: Smith 6631, DA 8744, DA 8731, DA 8858

Fiji
Fiji Islands Vanua Mbalavu Island introduced
invasive
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350)
As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 1011

Fiji
Fiji Islands Viti Levu Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350, 359)
As Setaria glauca; vouchers cited: Gillespie 4150.1, DA 2349, DA 8278, DA 7996, DA 9028, Smith 9455, DA 8649, DA 7317, DA 7800, DA 7944, DA 8129, DA 7789, DA 730, DA 3637, DA 8691, DA 9346, Gillespie 3607, DA 7776, DA 7684, DA 7728, DA 7647, Degener & Ordonez 13514, DA 9088, DA 8610; also as Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum.; vouchers cited: DA 5621, DDA 3600, DA 3601, DA 3602, DA 3603, DA 3604, DA 3618, DA 3623, DA 3170

French Polynesia
Society Islands Tahiti Island introduced
invasive
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 344)
As Setaria glauca (L.) P. Beauv.; voucher cited: BRY 26013

State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands Maui Island introduced
invasive
Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (pp. 29-30)
West Maui. Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer, R. Bartlett & G. Hansen H100402 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer & G. Hansen H120401 (BISH, PTBG)

New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 62)
Voucher cited: Vieillard 1472

New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago Île des Pins (Isle of Pines) introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 62)

Samoa
Western Samoa Islands Western Samoa Islands Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 56)

Tonga
Tongatapu Group ‘Eua Island Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 101)
As Setaria glaucum. Voucher cited: Soakai 909 (EI)

Tonga
Tongatapu Group Tongatapu Island Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 101)
As Setaria glaucum. Vouchers cited: Setchell & Parks 15398, Soakai 164

Tonga
Vava‘u Group Vava‘u Island Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 101)
As Setaria glaucum. Voucher cited: Crosby 199

Tonga
Vava‘u Group Vava‘u Island introduced
Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 60)

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) Australia (continental) Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)

China
China China (People's Republic of) Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)

Indonesia
Indonesia Indonesia (Republic of) Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)

Japan
Japan Japan (country) Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. plate)

Japan
Japan Japan (country) introduced
Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192)

Mexico
Mexico Mexico (United Mexican States) Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)

Taiwan
Taiwan Taiwan Island Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. plate)

Indian Ocean

Country/Terr./St. &
Island group Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction? Reference &
Comments

French Territory of Mayotte
Mayotte Islands Mayotte Island introduced
invasive
Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2010)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Pennisetum glaucum is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Pennisetum glaucum as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Pennisetum glaucum may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Anon. 1988. Weed list for American Samoa by cropping system. Checklist dated 07/13/88, origin unknown. 3 pp.

Burkill, I. H. 1900. The flora of Vavau, one of the Tonga Islands, with a short account of its vegetation by Charles Steele Crosby. Lin. Jour. Bot. 35:20-65.

Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France. 2010. Les espéces envahissantes en outre-mer (online resource).

Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar. 1980. Grass weeds, vol. 1. CIBA-GEIGY Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. 142 pp. + plates.

Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution. John Wiley & Sons. 1129 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro. 2004. Invasive alien species in Japan: the status quo and the new regulation for prevention of their adverse effects. Global Environmental Research 8(2)/2004: 171-191.

Oppenheimer, Hank. 2007. New plant records from Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i for 2006. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucias G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2006. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 96:17-34.

Smith, Albert C. 1979. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 1. 494 pp.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. The weeds of Manu‘a [unpublished checklist]. 18 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1991. The ethnobotany of Tonga: The plants, their Tongan names, and their uses. Bishop Museum Bulletin in Botany 2. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 155 pp. ISBN 0-930897-57-9.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).

Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER! (pier@hear.org)

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This page was created on 8 SEP 2002 and was last updated on 3 SEP 2012.

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		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Voucher cited: Whistler 3184
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 9105) Taxon name on voucher: Setaria glauca
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 96)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Anon. (1988)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1994) (voucher ID: PTBG 26892) Taxon name on voucher: Setaria glauca
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1993) (voucher ID: PTBG 27474) Taxon name on voucher: Setaria glauca
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350) As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: DA 9071
Fiji Fiji Islands	Nggamea Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350) As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: DA 8984
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350) As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: Bryan 609
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350) As Setaria glauca. Vouchers cited: Smith 8125, DA 8909, DA 8910
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350) As Setaria glauca. Vouchers cited: Smith 6631, DA 8744, DA 8731, DA 8858
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350) As Setaria glauca. Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 1011
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 347-350, 359) As Setaria glauca; vouchers cited: Gillespie 4150.1, DA 2349, DA 8278, DA 7996, DA 9028, Smith 9455, DA 8649, DA 7317, DA 7800, DA 7944, DA 8129, DA 7789, DA 730, DA 3637, DA 8691, DA 9346, Gillespie 3607, DA 7776, DA 7684, DA 7728, DA 7647, Degener & Ordonez 13514, DA 9088, DA 8610; also as Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum.; vouchers cited: DA 5621, DDA 3600, DA 3601, DA 3602, DA 3603, DA 3604, DA 3618, DA 3623, DA 3170
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 344) As Setaria glauca (L.) P. Beauv.; voucher cited: BRY 26013
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (pp. 29-30) West Maui. Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer, R. Bartlett & G. Hansen H100402 (BISH, PTBG), Oppenheimer & G. Hansen H120401 (BISH, PTBG)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 62) Voucher cited: Vieillard 1472
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 62)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 56)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 101) As Setaria glaucum. Voucher cited: Soakai 909 (EI)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 101) As Setaria glaucum. Vouchers cited: Setchell & Parks 15398, Soakai 164
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 101) As Setaria glaucum. Voucher cited: Crosby 199
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced	Burkill, I. H. (1900) (p. 60)

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)	Australia (continental)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. plate)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 124)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. plate)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2010)