Scientific Family
Poaceae
Synonyms
Pennisetum ruppelii, Phalaris setacea
Other common names
tender fountaingrass
Plant type
Grasses
Riparian
No
Grass Description
Origin
Introduced
Season
Cool
Warm
Found in disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
0
High elevation
4000
General Description
A densely tufted annual or perennial grass with wiry leaves and erect stems.
Bunchgrass up to 4 feet tall; blades arching and 2 feet long with noticeably thickened mid-veins, reddish, narrow, outward rolled or folded; seedhead is spike-like, 1 foot long, pinkish to dark red in color; conspicuously hairy bristles below spikelets.
Grass type
Perennial bunchgrass
Rhizomes
No
Stolons
No
Clump Diameter 2 ft or more
Yes
Bushy - highly branched
Yes
Height with Seedheads
Greater than 36 inches
Seedhead Structure
Branched - contracted
Seedhead droops
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
December
Flower Characteristics
Flowers per Spikelet
Multi-flowered
Spikelets One-Sided
No
Awns
Greater than 1 inch
Three Awns
No
Awns bent
No
Flower and Seedhead Notes
Seedheads are 3 to 13 inches long, 1-1/2 to 2 inches wide, erect or arching, and pink to dark burgundy in color. Seedhead stem is hairy. Spikelets are purple with whitish hairs on the stalks.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blade is hairy
Yes
Blade margins white
No
Blade cross-section
Convolute - rolled up longitudinally
Blades are 8 to 26 inches long, 1/10th inch wide and rolled up longitudinally or folded, Blades are smooth on top with stiff hairs on the undersides. Midvein is noticeably thickened.
Sheath is hairy
Yes
Tufts of hair top of sheath or collar
Yes
Ligule
Hairy
Auricles
No
Not available.