Pennisetum setaceum (Forsk.) Chiov.   Poaceae (Grass Family)   Africa   Fountain Grass   African Fountain Grass

                                            June Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Tufted perennial, ca. 1 m. tall; blades scabrous, numerous, 20-65 cm. long, 2-3.5 mm. wide, upper surface glabrous;  sheaths 4-8 cm. long glabrous; ligule 0.5-1 mm.; panicle elongate, 1.5-3.5 dm. long, mostly pink or purple, the fascicles peduncled, rather loosely arranged, with 1-3 spikelets; bristles plumose toward base, unequal, the longer 3-4 cm. long; first glume shorter than the spikelet, sometimes obsolete, 2d glume shorter than or equaling the sterile lemma; fertile lemma chartaceous, smooth, thin- margined, enclosing the palea.

Habitat:  Escaping from cult. and establishing itself at scattered localities from San Diego Co. to Ventura Co.  July-Oct.

Name:  Latin, penna, feather, and seta, a bristle, because of the plumose bristles of some spp.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif.) 988).  Setaceum, adjective from Latin saeta meaning bristle or "set with bristles".  (John Johnson).

General:  Currently rare in the study area, having been found only once and this at the intersection of Back Bay Dr. with San Joaquin Hills Rd.  Unfortunately, due to the spreading nature of this grass, it will probably become quite common in the next few years.     The week after I found the grass, I was on a walk sponsored by the California Native Plant Society and pointed it out to the people in the group.  One of the ladies, Janet Remington, said she was going to destroy the plant, however, it had already gone to seed and it was probably too late to prevent its spread in the area.  I have not been back to this spot in 1989 to see if new plants did seed themselves. (Subsequent investigation in later years has not turned up more specimens).  I understood, several years, ago from Walt Wright, that when the State of California first introduced this grass along the freeways that it did not do well for the first year or two but then took off and since has become a real pest. (my comments).        Pennisetum species have been known to cause hay fever and asthma.  (Fuller 382).       A genus of about 80 species of warmer parts of both hemispheres.  The most important species is  P. glaucum, pearl millet, which is widely cultivated in tropical Africa and Asia, the seed being used for human food.  It has been cultivated since prehistoric times, its wild prototype being unknown.  (Hitchcock 727).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1281; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 988; Pohl 176; Roberts 47.

Photo Ref:  June 88 # 12a,13A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 378.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 4/21/03.

                                         June Photo