Fountain Grass

Description:

Fountain Grass is a moderately-sized perennial grass (50-150 cm tall) with relatively elongated, reddish or pinkish-coloured seed heads. The main stem of the seed-head is angular and the long bristles (up to 25 mm or more) are hairy. As the seed heads mature, they become more straw-coloured in appearance. All Pennisetum species grasses belong to the family Poaceae.

Habitat:

Spotted by the freshwater lake on the University of Queensland Campus in Brisbane.

Notes:

Fountain grass is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia, and as a potential environmental weed in elsewhere in Australia. If well controlled, it can be used quite successfully for ornamental purposes.