Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Commelinids: Poales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Cenchrus purpurascens
FAMILY
Poaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Learn more about Chinese Fountaingrass from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
This species seems to be developing into an invasive species, with increasing reports of its spread into natural areas, as opposed to merely occurring as a waif following cultivation, per Weakley's Flora (2022)
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Pennisetum alopecuroides
FAMILY
Poaceae
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Cenchrus alopecuroides
SYNONYMOUS WITH Phylogenetic studies favour the unification of Pennisetum, Cenchrus, and Odontelytrum (Poaceae) (Chemisquy et al., 2010)
Cenchrus compressus
INCLUDING Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25 (2003)
Pennisetum alopecuroides
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Pennisetum alopecuroides
INCLUDING Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Pennisetum alopecuroides
COMMON NAME:
Chinese Fountaingrass, Black Fountaingrass, Foxtail Fountaingrass
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
Wesley Knapp wes_cenchrus_purpinfl
September Transylvania County NC
Roadside
Softly bristly panicles 8-15cm long; bristles of the fascicles to 2cm long, per Manual of the Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950).
)
Wesley Knapp wes_cenchrus_purpinfl2b
September Transylvania County NC
Roadside
)
Wesley Knapp wes_cenchrus_purpinfl2c
September Transylvania County NC
Roadside
)
Wesley Knapp wes_cenchrus_roadside
September Transylvania County NC
Roadside
New infestations have recently been reported on roadsides in 6 NC counties.
)
Wesley Knapp wes_cenchrus_roadside_b
September Transylvania County NC
Roadside
)
JK Marlow jkm081110_038
November Buncombe County NC
NC Arboretum
This ornamental grass is an emerging invasive in Mid-Atlantic states, per Plant Risk Evaluator: Pennisetum alopecuroides.
)
JK Marlow jkm081110_039
November Buncombe County NC
NC Arboretum
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Cenchrus purpurascens
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Pennisetum alopecuroides
FAMILY
Poaceae
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Cenchrus alopecuroides
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Phylogenetic studies favour the unification of Pennisetum, Cenchrus, and Odontelytrum (Poaceae) (Chemisquy et al., 2010)
Cenchrus compressus
INCLUDING
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25
Pennisetum alopecuroides
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Pennisetum alopecuroides
INCLUDING
Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Pennisetum alopecuroides
2003
Grass, Sedge, or Rush
Perennial
Habitat: Disturbed areas, roadsides, floodplains, old fields, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: east Asia
Rare
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate, 2-ranked
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Grain
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".