Cenchrus purpurascens
Swamp Foxtail at Parkes, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Cenchrus purpurascens | MichaelBedingfield | 16 May 2025 | |
| Cenchrus purpurascens | pinnaCLE | 16 May 2025 | |
| Phragmites australis | CarbonAI | 16 May 2025 | |
| Cenchrus purpurascens | pinnaCLE | 16 May 2025 |
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User's notes
An unfortunate choice of species since this is known to be a potential problem in wet areas. The flowers hanging out over the lake would be ideal to drop seed for wide dispersal. Problem magnified by planting being so extensive.
4 comments
16 May 2025
Cenchrus purpurascens is listed in MIS 25 Plant Species for Urban Landscape Projects as a Special Plant (requiring TCCS approval) but management note says it is 'NOT invasive'.
16 May 2025
The lucid weeds entry for this species says "Swamp foxtail (Cenchrus purpurascens) is sometimes regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales. It is also regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria, and as a potential environmental weed in Tasmania and Western Australia. It has recently become popular as an ornamental grass that is often planted in gardens and amenity areas. As the common name suggests, swamp foxtail (Cenchrus purpurascens) generally invades moist sites such as river flats, swamps, marshes and low-lying pastures." This implies it was unwise to plant hundreds in a strip along the edge of LakeBG.
Also implies that TCCS management note needs modifying to 'NOT invasive except in moist sites'?
Also implies that TCCS management note needs modifying to 'NOT invasive except in moist sites'?
19 May 2025
It has also been planted next to Coombs Ponds and has spread along the edge, See: Cenchrus purpurascens (Swamp Foxtail)
Location information
- Coordinates 149.138313-35.299556
- Maps Lake Burley Griffin Central/East
- Places Parkes, ACT
Sighting information
- 101 - 1,000 Abundance
- 9 May 2025 02:38 PM Recorded on
- pinnaCLE Recorded by
- 1 metre to 5 metres Plant height
- Yes Planted
Collections
Species information
- Cenchrus purpurascens Scientific name
- Swamp Foxtail Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 902.93m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
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Synonyms
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
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- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location