Juanita Marchesani
Cenchrus setaceus - Fountain Grass
Found growing on our sand dunes.
About this weed
This perennial grass was originally introduced from tropical Africa and the Middle East but is now widespread in disturbed areas on the Swan Coastal Plain and as far north as Geraldton. It was originally used for ornamental purposes and sand binding. Is declared a noxious weed in New South Wales and Queensland. It out competes native plants and increases fuel loads in summer and autumn.
Description
This tufted, perennial appears in spring and actively grows through till the end of summer. Water availability (particularly wetter summers) affects seed production and may favour the spread of seed. Seed set can occur without fertilisation. Seedlings readily establish in wetter years and then become drought tolerant in drier years, allowing it to maintain dominance over other grasses.
Impact on Bushland
Fountain Grass readily out-competes native plants and can alter nutrient cycling and increase fire fuel loads. It has a high phenotypic plasticity – Phenotypic plasticity refers to some of the changes in an organism’s behavior, morphology and physiology in response to a unique environment (source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenotypic_plasticity). It recovers well from defoliation by rapidly reshooting and flowering.
Cenchrus setaceus - Fountain Grass
Found growing on our sand dunes.
About this weed
This perennial grass was originally introduced from tropical Africa and the Middle East but is now widespread in disturbed areas on the Swan Coastal Plain and as far north as Geraldton. It was originally used for ornamental purposes and sand binding. Is declared a noxious weed in New South Wales and Queensland. It out competes native plants and increases fuel loads in summer and autumn.
Description
This tufted, perennial appears in spring and actively grows through till the end of summer. Water availability (particularly wetter summers) affects seed production and may favour the spread of seed. Seed set can occur without fertilisation. Seedlings readily establish in wetter years and then become drought tolerant in drier years, allowing it to maintain dominance over other grasses.
Impact on Bushland
Fountain Grass readily out-competes native plants and can alter nutrient cycling and increase fire fuel loads. It has a high phenotypic plasticity – Phenotypic plasticity refers to some of the changes in an organism’s behavior, morphology and physiology in response to a unique environment (source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenotypic_plasticity). It recovers well from defoliation by rapidly reshooting and flowering.