Quick Facts

Quick facts

• Originally from South America, Plumerillo (Jarava plumosa) is a perennial grass species producing tufted 'plume-like' spikelets.
• It reproduces by seeds that can become attached to the fur or wool of animals, clothing and vehicles, be dispersed by water, or spread in contaminated agricultural produce.
• It is not widespread in Australia, and is only known to occur in the south-eastern part of Adelaide, from the Waite Campus and the Adelaide Parklands.
• It has been successfully controlled by grubbing on a regular basis in areas where it has naturalised.

What Does It Look Like?

What is it?

Plumerillo (Jarava plumosa) is a tufted perennial grass that grows to 25–80 cm in height. The upright stems are mostly hairless and may be branched at the lower nodes (joints of stem). The leaves are thin, linear (long and narrow) and generally hairless, 2–18 cm long and 1–2 mm wide, often rolled inwards, but can be flattened or downwardly rolled, with a leaf-sheath rolled around the stem where the blade meets the stem. A small 0.1–2 mm, membranous ligule is present where the leaf blade meets the sheath. The ligule can be located by tracing a leaf down to where it joins the sheath and bending the leaf back at this point. 

The flower-head is open, oblong to linear panicle (loose, much branched, 4–12 cm long), consisting of numerous small white flowers (spikelets). The spikelets are solitary, elongated, 8–10 mm long, and display a straight to twisted bristle-like structure (awn) 15–30 mm long. Long soft hairs, 4–8 mm long, are produced near the base of the awn, giving each spikelet a 'plume-like' appearance. Each spikelet produces a single spindle shaped seed about 4 mm long (Navie 2004; Clayton et al. 2007).

For further information and assistance with identification of Plumerillo, contact the herbarium in your state or territory.

Flower colour

White

Growth form (weed type/habit)

Grass

Where it currently grows? Preferred habitat

Plumerillo does not occur widely in Australia, but it is a potential weed of temperate regions, where it could invade pastures, native grasslands and open woodlands (Navie 2004).

Are there similar species?

Plumerillo is similar to several native Speargrasses (Austrostipa spp.), but can be distinguished from these species by the presence of a membranous ligule where the leaf blade meets the sheath (Navie 2004). In the field, this species can resemble the growth form of Danthonia spp., but can be distinguished by its wiry stems that remain green after shedding its seeds (Gardner et al. 1996).

Plumerillo can also be confused with a number of non-native Nassella spp. (Needlegrasses), Achnatherum spp. (Espartillo), and Piptochaetium montevidense (Uruguayan Ricegrass), but can be distinguished from these species by the presence of the plume-like awn on its seeds (Navie 2004).

Why Is It A Weed?

What are its impacts?

A potential weed of temperate regions, where it could invade pastures, native grasslands and open woodlands (Navie 2004). Plumerillo could form dense infestations in pasture and some native vegetation types where it would exclude desirable grasses (Government of South Australia 2021).

It produces seed that is well adapted for wind dispersal A potential weed of remnant native grasslands and woodlands in south-eastern Australia

Agriculture:  It has low feed value to stock, and is not very palatable so tends to be allowed to increase under grazing pressure as long as more palatable pasture species are present. Plumerillo is reported in other countries as having little fodder value and its seeds may cause discomfort to stock (McLaren et al. 2004). The seed are similar to invasive Nassella species (an introduce invasive grass with sharp pointed seeds that are also) damaging to stock as seeds penetrates skin and eyes, and contaminates the fleece of sheep (Government of South Australia 2011).

Native ecosystems: Could invade grasslands and open grassy woodlands.

Urban areas: Could spread in little managed and degraded areas, and along roadsides vegetation.

How does it spread?

Plumerillo reproduces by seeds that can become attached to the fur or wool of animals, clothing and vehicles. They can be water dispersed, or spread in contaminated agricultural produce (Navie 2004). The plumed awns are thought to be an adaptation for wind dispersal (McLaren et al. 2004).

What is its history in Australia?

Plumerillo was introduced into South Australia as a potential pasture plant probably in the 1940s. The first herbarium record of this species was from a cultivated glasshouse specimen in 1941 (Gardner et al. 1996).

How To Manage It?

Best practice management

Non-chemical control: Where it has naturalised in Australia, e.g. in the vicinity of the Waite Institute in Adelaide and in the Adelaide Parklands, it has been successfully controlled by grubbing out on a regular basis (Gardner et al. 1996).

Chemical control: It can be controlled with foliage application of herbicides.

Does it have a biological control agent?

NO

When does it grow? (lifecycle/growth calendar)

Plumerillo is a perennial species that flowers mainly in spring or early summer, responding to summer rains (Gardner et al. 1996; Navie 2004).

Where Is It Found?

Which states and territories is it found?

SA

What areas within states and territories is it found?

Plumerillo is not widespread in Australia and is only known from self-sown wild plant in the south-eastern part of Adelaide in South Australia.  It has been recorded at cultivated  and in the Australian Capital Territory (Gardner et al. 1996; Navie 2004) at Ginninderra Station at a Plant Introduction Nursery (AVH 2021). Its potential distribution in Australia is estimated at 1.8 million hectares (McLaren et al. 2004). It has been found naturalised in the Waite Institute and near Adelaide, South Australia, but these populations have been dug out and appear to have been eradicated (Gardner et al. 1996).

Where does it originate?

Plumerillo is native to South America (Brazil and southern South America), but is also found in North America and southern Africa (Clayton et al. 2007; GRIN 2007).

National And State Weed Listings

Is it a Weed of National Significance (WONS)?

NO

Where is it a declared weed?

SA

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the National Alert List for Environmental Weeds?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the Agricultural Sleeper List?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Names And Taxonomy

Main scientific name

Jarava plumosa

Other scientific names (synonyms)?

• Achnatherum papposum (Nees) Barkworth
• Calamagrostis plumosa Spreng.
• Stipa delilei Steud.
• Stipa papposa Nees

Does it have other known common name(s)?

Jarava, South American Rice Grass