Fountain Grass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fountain grass | |
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| Pennisetum setaceum Habit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Pennisetum |
| Species: | P. setaceum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pennisetum setaceum (Forssk.) Chiov. |
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Fountain Grass is a C4 perennial bunch grass that is native to East Africa, north Africa, and the Middle East. It has been introduced to many parts of the world as an ornamental plant. It is drought-tolerant, grows fast, reaches 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height and has many purple, plumose flower spikes. Fountain grass has a limited range within its natural range along the Sahara and Mediterranean Coast.
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[edit] Environmental threat
Although a native of North Africa, it has been introduced to Tenerife,[1] Australia,[2] South Africa, Hawaiʻi, and the Western United States.[3] It thrives in warmer, drier areas and threatens many native species, with which it competes very effectively. It also tends to increase the risk of intense wildfires, thus posing a further threat to certain native species.
[edit] Gallery
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_7797.jpg) in Hyderabad, India. |
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_7795.jpg) in Hyderabad, India. |
 Detail of ripening seeds. |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pennisetum setaceum |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Pennisetum setaceum |
[edit] References
- ^ "Tackling Exotic Flora in the Teno Rural Park". Secret Tenerife. 28 January 2007. http://www.secret-tenerife.com/2007/01/tackling-exotic-flora-in-teno-rural.html. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ "Fountain Grass". Weed Identification & Information. Australian Weeds Committee. http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=E16. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ "Fountain Grass". Alien Plant Working Group. Plant Conservation Alliance. http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pese1.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
