Pennisetum ciliare

buffelgrass

Did you know?:

Buffelgrass is a highly nutritious grass excellent for grazing in hot, dry areas. It also has the conflicted distinction of being a devastating threat to the native flora, fauna, and ecosystem patterns within the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave deserts of the southwest United States, and in Hawaii.

Photo Credit:

What does this species look like?

Buffelgrass is a tufted, erect to spreading, annual to perennial grass, growing 6 to 60 inches tall. Its tiny, green, inconspicuous flowers have both male and female parts and are wind-pollinated. The flowers are surrounded by bristles and are densely arranged along a spike.

Buffelgrass is a drought-tolerant species that is well adapted to deep, well-drained soils of many textures. It is commonly found in disturbed places, roadsides, and fields, but often occurs on wild, natural sites having sandy soils.

Why observe this species?

Buffelgrass is a USA-NPN regional plant species. Regional species are ecologically or economically important and are distributed more locally than calibration species. The NPN integrates these observations tobetter understand plant responses within the different geographic regions of the nation. Also, this species is potentially invasive. Observations on its phenology will provide valuable information toward understanding its potential for spread and for its control. The NPN does not promote planting or cultivation of this or any invasive plant.

Where is this species found?

U.S. States:

AZ, CA, FL, HI, LA, MO, NM, NY, OK, PR, TX, VI

Special Considerations for Observing

If drought seems to be the cause of leaf withering for a plant, please make a comment to that effect.

Which phenophases should I observe?

Leaves	Do you see...? *Initial growth* New growth of the plant is visible, either as new green shoots sprouting from nodes on existing stems, or new green shoots breaking through the soil surface. For each shoot, growth is considered "initial" until the first leaf has unfolded. More... *Leaves* One or more live unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. A leaf is considered "unfolded" when it unrolls slightly from around the stem and begins to fall away at an angle. Do not include dried or dead leaves. More...
Flowers	Do you see...? *Flower heads* One or more fresh flower heads (inflorescences) are visible on the plant. Flower heads, which include many small flowers arranged on spikelets, emerge from inside the stem and gradually grow taller. Do not include heads whose flowers have already opened and have all wilted or dried. How many fresh flower heads are present? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Open flowers* One or more open fresh flowers are visible on the plant. A flower is considered "open" when reproductive parts (male anthers or female stigmata) can be seen protruding from the spikelet. Do not include flowers with wilted or dried reproductive parts that remain on the plant. How many fresh flowers are open? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Pollen release* One or more flowers on the plant release pollen when gently shaken or blown. How many flowers release pollen? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More...
Fruits	Do you see...? *Fruits* One or more fresh fruits are visible on the plant. For Pennisetum ciliare, the fruit is a grain and changes texture from soft or watery to hard, eventually dropping from the plant. How many fresh fruits are present? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Ripe fruits* One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For Pennisetum ciliare, a fruit is considered ripe when it is hard when squeezed and difficult to divide with a fingernail. A fruit may also be considered ripe if it drops from the plant when touched. How many fruits are ripe? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Recent fruit drop* One or more fresh mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature fruits that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind. How many mature fruits have dropped? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More...

Leaves

Do you see...?

Initial growth
New growth of the plant is visible, either as new green shoots sprouting from nodes on existing stems, or new green shoots breaking through the soil surface. For each shoot, growth is considered "initial" until the first leaf has unfolded. More...

Leaves
One or more live unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. A leaf is considered "unfolded" when it unrolls slightly from around the stem and begins to fall away at an angle. Do not include dried or dead leaves. More...

Flowers

Do you see...?

Flower heads
One or more fresh flower heads (inflorescences) are visible on the plant. Flower heads, which include many small flowers arranged on spikelets, emerge from inside the stem and gradually grow taller. Do not include heads whose flowers have already opened and have all wilted or dried.

How many fresh flower heads are present?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Open flowers
One or more open fresh flowers are visible on the plant. A flower is considered "open" when reproductive parts (male anthers or female stigmata) can be seen protruding from the spikelet. Do not include flowers with wilted or dried reproductive parts that remain on the plant.

How many fresh flowers are open?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Pollen release
One or more flowers on the plant release pollen when gently shaken or blown.

How many flowers release pollen?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Fruits

Do you see...?

Fruits
One or more fresh fruits are visible on the plant. For Pennisetum ciliare, the fruit is a grain and changes texture from soft or watery to hard, eventually dropping from the plant.

How many fresh fruits are present?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Ripe fruits
One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For Pennisetum ciliare, a fruit is considered ripe when it is hard when squeezed and difficult to divide with a fingernail. A fruit may also be considered ripe if it drops from the plant when touched.

How many fruits are ripe?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Recent fruit drop
One or more fresh mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature fruits that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind.

How many mature fruits have dropped?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

For more information

USDA PLANTS profile for buffelgrass (USDA Symbol: PECI)
ITIS information for buffelgrass (ITIS TSN: 504198)

Acknowledgments

Observe Plants & Animals