What Does It Look Like?
What is it?
African Feather Grass (Cenchrus macrourus) [as Pennisetum macrourum] is an erect, tufted, larger, perennial grass, sometimes growing to 1.5–2 m high. African Feather Grass has a network of fibrous roots which grow to a depth of 1 m. It also has sturdy rhizomes (underground stems) about 7 mm in diameter and up to 2 m in length. The rhizomes are partly enclosed in a sheath and occur from just below the soil surface to a depth of 30 cm (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). The stems emerge from a crown at ground level, are upright, cylindrical, sometimes with hairs on lower stems, and hairless above. The light green leaves grow to 50 cm long sometimes more, and 0.4–1.2 cm wide, flat to in-rolled. Leaves emerge rolled inwards, later becoming flattened with the tips remaining rolled and leaves sometimes slightly curled and drooping. Leaves are without hairs or a few near the base, and are ribbed on the upper surface, rough to touch on margins and near apex. They are a darker green on the lower surface and sometimes purplish along the edges and tips. The ligule (the structure where the leaf sheath and blade meet) is a fringe of hairs 0.5–1.5 mm long (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001).
The flower spike is a dense cylindrical panicle 8–30 cm long and 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The flower spike is pale brown to straw coloured, often with a purplish tinge. It is erect and upright, and long and thin, and spike-like, like a narrow foxtail. The head is made up of 100s of flower spikes, 4–7 mm long that are solitary or paired, each subtended by numerous bristles.
The seed head is made up of the numerous spikelets are 5 to 7 mm long and surrounded by feather-like serrated bristles 10–15 mm long with one bristle longer and thicker than the rest (Thorp & Wilson 1998-). The seeds are yellow to brown in colour and 5 to 7 mm long (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001).
For further information and assistance with identification of African Feather Grass contact the herbarium in your state or territory.
Flower colour
Yellow, Purple
Growth form (weed type/habit)
Grass
Where it currently grows? Preferred habitat
African Feather Grass prefers subtropical to warm-temperate climates and grows on open, well drained soils (Johnson 2005). It grows in lowland grassland and open grassy woodland, along the banks of rivers and creeks, in seasonal freshwater wetlands, roadsides, pasture, and low-lying areas subject to flooding, spreading to drier surrounding areas and waste areas where adequate moisture is available (Blood 2001). It is often found on sandy soils (Thorp & Wilson 1998 -) and tolerates drought, wind, salt and grazing (Blood 2001). It requires full sun, with dense infestation only rarely occurring within shaded bushland environments (Tasmania Department of Primary Industries and Water 2002).
Are there similar species?
The distinctive long, thin form of the flower head readily distinguishes African Feather Grass from the similar tussock-forming Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) (Tasmania Department of Primary Industries and Water 2002). It as also similar to many other Cenchrus species. Queensland Government (2016) distinguishes African feather grass (Cenchrus macrourus), a large long-lived (i.e. perennial) grass (usually 1–2 m tall) with very elongated, greenish or yellowish-coloured seed-heads, with main stem (i.e. rachis) of the seed-head is rounded and the relatively short bristles (mostly less than 10 mm long) are rough (i.e. scabrous), from the following:
Mission grass (Cenchrus polystachios) is a large long-lived (i.e. perennial) grass (usually 2–3 m tall) with very elongated, yellowish or brownish-coloured seed-heads. The main stem (i.e. rachis) of the seed-head is angular and the relatively long bristles (4–25 mm long) are hairy (i.e. plumose).
Deenanth grass (Cenchrus pedicellatus) is a moderately-sized short-lived (i.e. annual or perennial) grass (usually 30–150 cm tall) with elongated, pale purplish-coloured seed-heads. The main stem (i.e. rachis) of the seed-head is angular and the relatively long bristles (6–24 mm long) are hairy (i.e. plumose).
swamp foxtail (Cenchrus purpurascens) is a moderately-sized long-lived (i.e. perennial) grass (usually 60-100 cm tall) with relatively elongated, purplish-coloured seed-heads. The main stem (i.e. rachis) of the seed-head is rounded and the relatively long bristles (15–30 mm long) are hairless (i.e. glabrous).
Elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) is a very large and robust long-lived (i.e. perennial) grass (1–7 m tall) with elongated, greenish or purplish-coloured seed-heads. The main stem (i.e. rachis) of the seed-head is rounded and the relatively long bristles (10–16 mm or more long) are rough or hairy (i.e. scabrous to plumose).
Fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceus) is a moderately-sized long-lived (i.e. perennial) grass (50–150 cm tall) with relatively elongated, reddish or pinkish-coloured seed-heads. The main stem (i.e. rachis) of the seed-head is angular and the long bristles (up to 25 mm or more) are hairy (i.e. plumose).
Feathertop (Cenchrus longisetus) is a relatively small long-lived (i.e. perennial) grass (15-100 cm tall) with relatively broad, oblong-shaped, whitish-coloured seed-heads. The main stem (i.e. rachis) of the seed-head is angular and the very long bristles (30-70 mm long) are hairy (i.e. plumose).
For further help see: Flora Vic (2016); PlantNET (2021).
