California Invasive Plant Council

Pennisetum ciliare

Synonyms: Cenchrus ciliaris

Common names: buffelgrass, buffel grass

Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare; also known as Cenchrus ciliaris) is an erect, perennial  bunch grass (Family Poaceae) growing to ca. 15 dm that is native to Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. It has established and become invasive in parts of the SW USA (Arizona) and Australia. Inflorescences can be up to 13cm long, and consist of spikelets subtended by arrays of feather-like bristles; the inner row of bristles is fused at the base. Reproduction appears to be largely apomictic (doesn’t require pollination). This grass was introduced in the 1930’s and 1940’s into the southwest as fodder, for erosion control, and as an ornamental. To date, new cultivars with wider environmental tolerances continue to be sold. Plants can be propagated both by seed and vegetatively. Buffelgrass can outcompete native vegetation by forming dense swards and can type-convert desert shrublands into grassland. Typically, areas that have been invaded with bufflegrass have decreased soil fertility, increased soil erosion, and altered fire regimes.

 

Cal-IPC Rating: Watch

CDFA Rating: None?

Explanation of CDFA ratings

• A – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and is either not known to be established in California or it is present in a limited distribution that allows for the possibility of eradication or successful containment.
• B – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is of limited distribution.
• C – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is usually widespread.
• D – An organism known to be of little or no economic or environmental detriment, to have an extremely low likelihood of weediness, or is known to be a parasite or predator.
• Q – An organism or disorder suspected to be of economic or environmental detriment, but whose status is uncertain because of incomplete identification or inadequate information.
• * – An asterisk next to the rating indicates that a plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds.
• -* – This plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds, but is otherwise not rated.

More details

Assessment(s)

Plant Risk Assessment - An evaluation of the potential for a plant to be invasive in California.

Weed Management Notes

• Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

There are no newsletter articles associated with this species yet.

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

There are no Symposium presentations associated with this species yet.

Other Pennisetum ciliare Information

• Bugwood - National database from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
• EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
• GBIF - Global distribution information.
• Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
• USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.
• The Plant List - Global taxonomic resource and collaborative clearinghouse from Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Missouri Botanic Garden and others.

Additional photos