Cenchrus sp. (purpurascens or setaceus)
Unknown Cenchrus sp. at Crace, ACT
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| Cenchrus sp. (purpurascens or setaceus) | MichaelBedingfield | 14 Apr 2022 | |
| Cenchrus setaceus | MichaelBedingfield | 12 Apr 2022 | |
| Cenchrus purpurascens | walter | 11 Apr 2022 |
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User's notes
Single plant at edge of path
5 comments
12 Apr 2022
Hi Walter. It seems unlikely to be C. purpurascens in that location. It normally prefers to grow next to water or in damp places. If possible, could you return & pull or dig up this specimen & dispose of it safely?
12 Apr 2022
Hi Michael
It seems the Cenchrus species are difficult to distinguish. The spikelet bristles of C setaceus are plumose, whereas the bristles of the plant I found are definitely not. Also, regarding habitat it seems that C. purpurascens, although commonly called Swamp Foxtail, is not confined to moist places ( http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cenchrus_purpurascens.htm) . I still think it could be C. purpurascens
It seems the Cenchrus species are difficult to distinguish. The spikelet bristles of C setaceus are plumose, whereas the bristles of the plant I found are definitely not. Also, regarding habitat it seems that C. purpurascens, although commonly called Swamp Foxtail, is not confined to moist places ( http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cenchrus_purpurascens.htm) . I still think it could be C. purpurascens
13 Apr 2022
Yes, from a photo C. purpurascens & C. setaceus can be difficult to distinguish. Since C. setaceus is a weed we want to eradicate I suggested it be removed. Anyway, C. purpurascens also has weed potential near that drain, so removing it would do no harm. My experience of C. purpurascens locally is that it prospers & can spread rapidly in places that have intermittent wet conditions. It was planted at ANBG some decades ago & quickly became such a problem that they had to eradicate it from the gardens. Either way, removing the plant is a safer option.
13 Apr 2022
Ok. thanks David. I went passed the locality thismorning and found it had been mown, so couldn't see the single C. purpurascens. I'll keep an eye on it.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.113692-35.199722
- Altitude 620.0m
- Places Crace, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 11 Apr 2022 09:45 AM Recorded on
- walter Recorded by
- 10cm to 30cm Plant height
- Yes In flower
Collections
- walter Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Grasses Plants Cenchrus sp. (purpurascens or setaceus)
Species information
- Cenchrus sp. (purpurascens or setaceus) Scientific name
- Unknown Cenchrus sp. Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Minor weed or pest
- 620m Recorded at altitude
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Description
- Additional attributes
- More than one media file
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location