Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Pennisetum
Species: P. alopecuroides
Binomial name: Pennisetum alopecuroides
Synonyms: Alopecurus hordeiformis, Panicum alopecuroides, Pennisetum compressum, Pennisetum hordeiforme, Pennisetum japonicum
Common names: Fountain grass, Chinese pennisetum, Chinese fountaingrass, Dwarf fountain grass, Foxtail fountain grass, Swamp foxtail grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides is a deep-rooted species of perennial grass native to Asia and Australia. It is often used in ornamental gardening. In New Zealand, it has escaped cultivation and has the possibility to become a serious weed in pastoral land. It is generally unpalatable to livestock and therefore reduces available grazing area. It will invade native ecosystems suppressing the growth of native flora. It seeds are spread by water, wind, contaminated soil and feed, machinery. They are also spread by animals and people by attaching to wool, fur, clothing.
Pennisetum alopecuroides is a wiry, tufted, perennial, clump-forming grass <1m tall. The hairless, leaf-blades are erect or drooping; flat, or conduplicate (folded lengthwise), or involute (margins rolled inward). They are light green on top and dark green underneath and are 10–45 cm long by 3–6 mm wide.
The flowers are white spikes that arch outward from the clump in late summer. They later develop into purple-brown seed heads that look like small bottlebrushes.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
