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African Fountain Grass

 

Pennisetum setaceum (Forsxkal) Chiov. -- Cyperales:  Poaceae

 

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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:

 

AdkinsEdith, 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.

 

MorrisonGlen 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.

 

SweetLynn 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.