This name is not current. Find out more information on related names.
- Reference
- Mus.Senckenberg. 2:134-135 (1836)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Alien to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Not Current
Rhizomatous, tufted perennial, grass-like or herb, 0.3-1 m high. Fl. yellow/purple, Feb to Oct. Sand, loam, sandy clay. Cultivated in gardens but also a weed of disturbed habitats.
Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)
General Biology. Growth form. Grass. Life form. Perennial, rhizomatous/caespitose. Reproduction. Seed and rhizomes. Dispersal. Wind, animals, clothing, soil on vehicle tyres and machinery, roadside slashing/mowing. Photosynthetic Pathway. C4. Seedbank persistence. Possibly less than 12 months. Fire response. Resprouts.
Notes. Spreads rapidly into disturbed areas. Widespread and locally common on roadsides and pastural areas in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, southern Queensland and South Australia.
Additional information. Origin. North Africa. History of use/introduction. Ornamental. Similar exotic species. Pennisetum setaceum.
Suggested method of management and control. Individual plants can be manually removed. Best controlled as an immature plant, following fire and/or prior to flowering and seed set. Spray with 1% gyphosate. Thick old tussocks may be easier to control if burnt or slashed down to 10cm above ground and allowed to reshoot before applying herbicide. Requires vigilant follow-up. Use unplanned fire events to effectively control any regrowth. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Management Calendar
| Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Growth | O | O | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||
| Germination | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
| Flowering | Y | Y | Y | O | O | O | O | O | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Fruiting | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
| Optimum Treatment | Y | Y | Y | O | O | O | O | Y | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- CRC Weed Management (2008) Weed Management Guide - Feathergrasses and mission grasses (Pennisetum species). CRC for Australian Weed Management, Canberra.
- DeLaine, D. & Stokes, Z. (2006) Controlling Bushland Weeds on Lower Eyre Peninsula. Rural Solutions (S.A.), Adelaide. URL: http://www.pestandweed.com/pestandweed/pdf/Bushland_Weeds_Booklet_reduced.pdf - Accessed December 2007.
- North West Weeds (2007) Foxtail - Longstyle feather grass. , Bingara, NSW. URL: http://www.northwestweeds.nsw.gov.au - Accessed December 2007. Noxious weed control unit, Gwydir and Inverell Shires.
- Parsons, W.T. & Cuthbertson, E.G. (2001) Noxious weeds of Australia. 2nd Edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
- Transport South Australia (2000) Weeds of the Mid North. Feathertop Grass (Pennisetum villosum). Government of South Australia, Walkerville. URL: www.transport.sa.gov.au/pdfs/environment/weeds_mid_north.pdf - Accessed December 2007.