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 This fountain
grass has spread outside its North African native range where it damages
native ecosystems. It is now also
spreading in California and other world sites. As a common landscape ornamental, it is widely planted in
southwestern states. Fountain grass
seeds disperse readily via wind, animals, and vehicles. Repeated introductions through landscape
plantings are also important in the spread.
The impacts of fountain grass on natural habitats in California are
unknown but in Hawaii it has been shown that fountain grass alters
microhabitats. After invasion
increased fire and other deleterious effects may cause a forest community to
be changed into grassland.
Fountain grass has been present in California since 1917, but now it
is spreading along roadsides and occurring in as large stands on
southwest-facing hillsides and rocky outcrops in coastal sage scrub,
chaparral edges, and desert slopes and washes. Cultivars of fountain grass are commonly used in landscape
plantings, as well. Its copious pollen
must also contribute to airborne allergens.
REFERENCES:
Adkins, Edith, Susan Cordell & Donald R. Drake.
2011. Role of Fire in the Germination Ecology of Fountain
Grass, Pennisetum setaccum, an Invasive African Bunchgrass in
Hawaii. Pacific Science Vol. 65
(1): 17-25.
Hequet, Vanessa, Mickaël Le Corre, Frédéric Rigault
& Vincent Blanfort. 2009. Les espèces exotiques
envahissantes de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Conventions Province
Sud : C 153-08 / Province Nord :
09C037.
Lovich, J. E. 2000. Pennisetum setaceum Forsskal. In: Bossard, C. C., J. M. Randall, & M. C. Hoshovsky
(eds.). Invasive
plants of California’s wildlands. University of California Press, Berkeley
& Los Angeles, 360 pp.
Morrison, Glen R. & Erin J. Questad.
2019. Elevated soil nitrogen, but not phosphorus, increases
growth and reproduction in Crimson Fountain grass, Pennisetum setaccum (Poaceae). The Journal of the
Torrey Botanical Society 146 (4):
262-268.
Rahlao, Sebataolo J., Karen J. Esler, Sue J. Milton & Phoebe Barnard.
2010. Nutrient Addition and Moisture Promote the
Invasiveness of Crimson Fountaingrass (Pennisetum
setaccum). Weed Science 58 (2):
154-159.
Sweet, Lynn C. & Jodie S. Holt.
2015. Establishment Stage Competition between Exotic Crimson
Fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaccum) and Native Purple
Needlegrass (Stipa
pulchra). Invasive Plant Science
and Management 8 (2): 139-150.
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