Invasiveness Assessment - Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) in Victoria

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Plant invasiveness is determined by evaluating a plant’s biological and ecological characteristics against criteria that encompass establishment requirements, growth rate and competitive ability, methods of reproduction, and dispersal mechanisms.

Each characteristic, or criterion, is assessed against a list of intensity ratings. Depending upon information found, a rating of Low, Medium Low, Medium High or High is assigned to that criterion. Where no data is available to answer a criterion, a rating of medium (M) is applied. A description of the invasiveness criteria and intensity ratings used in this process can be viewed here.

The following table provides information on the invasiveness of Fountain grass.

A more detailed description of the methodology of the Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method can be viewed below:

Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (PDF - 630 KB)
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (DOC - 1 MB)
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Common Name: Fountain grass
Scientific name: Pennisetum setaceum

Question	Comments	Rating	Confidence
Establishment
Germination requirements?	Flowers January to April (Walsh and Entwisle, 1996). In order to sprout it needs open space and sunshine with a warm temperature (Medio ambient Canarias). Under conditions of low water availability, invasive fountain grass had lower seedling survival compared with the native grass (Goergen and Daehler, 2001). Germination requires natural seasonal disturbance such as seasonal rainfall.	MH	M
Establishment requirements?	P. setaceum productivity decreases with decreasing light availability (Litton et al, 2006) hence survives well in open sites. Requires full sun but tolerates partial shade (Floridata). However under conditions of low water availability, invasive fountain grass had lower seedling survival compared with the native grass (Goergen and Daehler, 2001). The rate of invasiveness and establishment is somewhat influenced by the amount of rainfall and moisture (Poulin et al, 2005). However it is a species that is native in arid areas. Furthermore in the United States it is limited to fairly dry areas where the median rainfall is less than 127 cm (NCPI). Making it a known serious seed in many dry habitats in the States (NPCI). In its native it establishes in open, scrubby habitats (Flordata). P. setaceum requires open space and access to direct light for successful establishment.	ML	H
How much disturbance is required?	In its native range P. setaceum establishes in open, scrubby habitats (Flordata). Outside its native range P. setaceum is a weed of pastures and alongside railway lines and roads (Johnson) and can grow in rock crevices and pavement cracks (CDFA). It grows in tropical to semi arid areas and prefers exposed, dry habitats, particularly rocky areas but can also grow in sandy soils such as coastal grasslands and coastal sage scrub (Johnson; CDFA; Clayton, 1970). In southern California it invades grasslands, shrublands warm deserts, canyons and roadsides (NPCI, CDFA). The species is able to establish in minimal disturbed natural ecosystems such as grasslands.	MH	M
Growth/Competitive
Life form?	Perennial grass up to 1 m high (Walsh and Entwisle, 1996; Poulin et al, 2005)	MH	MH
Allelopathic properties?	In all of the literature there was no reference made to allelopathic properties of this plant.	L	L
Tolerates herb pressure?	Fountain grass is of little grazing value due to its coarse rough leaves (Johnson). A study conducted by Blackmore and Vitousek (2000) investigated cattle grazed P.setaceum. In Hawaii cattle eat fountain grass only when no other grass is available (California Uni). The grass is fed to horses during winter, although not a good pasture grass, still it is eaten by goats and camels (Sherif and Siddiqi, 1988; NPCI). The species is consumed but not a preferred species.	MH	MH
Normal growth rate?	Growth rate of the species has been described as being fast (Gilman, 1999) that can live to up to 20 years (Johnson). Fountain grass out competes and grows faster than some native grass (Litton et al, 2006). It is an aggressive species that out competes native plants (NPCI). The species exhibits rapid growth rate that will exceed most other species.	H	MH
Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Tolerant of high temperatures, high humidity, high wind, drought and acidic to alkaline soils (Floridata). Extremely drought tolerant, established plants thrive in areas where annual rainfall is less than 127 cm of rain annually (Floridata, NPCI). However the species does not survive prolonged low temperatures (Drake, 1994) and does not tolerate saline conditions (CDFA). The species is well adapted to fire and can recover to pre burn density (D’Antonio and Vitousek, 1992). P. setaceum is highly tolerant of at least two and susceptible to two.	MH	MH
Reproduction
Reproductive system	Can reproduce asexually and reproduce by seeds following pollination (Simpson and Bashaw, 1969) by either fertilized or unfertilized seeds (Simpson and Bashaw, 1969). The species can be propagated from seed and it will self sow in warm climates. Most cultivars do not produce seeds; they are propagated by dividing the root clumps (Floridata). The plant can reproduce by seed naturally and be cultivated vegetatively.	H	MH
Number of propagules produced?	An average of 100 seeds per plant was measured in a trial conducted by Poulin et al (2007) under greenhouse conditions.	ML	H
Propagule longevity?	Seeds that were kept in the laboratory for 18 months decreased in viability from 80 to 44 percent (Tunison, 1992). Can remain viable in soil for up to six years or longer (Tunison, 1992; NPCI, PCA, 2005). Therefore greater than 25% of seeds can survive 5-10 years in the soil.	ML	MH
Reproductive period?	P. setaceum can form monospecific stands (Tunison, 1992) furthermore individual plants may live up to 20 years or more (CDFA).	H	MH
Time to reproductive maturity?	No information exists on time to reproductive maturity on this species.	M	L
Dispersal
Number of mechanisms?	Primarily wind dispersed (NPCI). Mainly spread by humans and wind, also animals and water (Poulin et al 2007). It is readily dispersed by vehicles, humans, wind, water and possibly birds (Tunison, 1992). The propagules are spread by wind, water and possibly animals and also humans.	MH	MH
How far do they disperse?	Seeds can be dispersed greater distances by water, vehicles, livestock and humans (NPCI). New infestations were seen to establish one quarter of a mile upstream from other infestations (SDCP). Therefore it is very likely that at least one propagule will disperse greater than one kilometre.	H	MH

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