Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov.
kikuyu grass
Decumbent to semiscandent perennials, with creeping, cataphyll-covered rhizomes and long stolons 2.5-5.5 mm diam., rooting at nodes; when grazed or mown forming a close, compact, light green turf; plants with ⚥ florets, or monoecious, or dioecious. Leaf-sheath light brown or almost white, ± membranous, usually with scattered, fine, tubercle-based hairs, rarely glabrous. Ligule 1-2 mm, a densely ciliate rim. Leaf-blade (1.5)-3-8-(25) cm × 1.5-2.5-(9) mm, at first tightly folded, later flattened, linear, gradually tapering, soft, glabrous, or with a few, fine, tubercle-based hairs, sparingly scabrid on margins and midrib near narrow subobtuse tip. Culm internodes shining, glabrous, extending as long, rooting, flattened stolons, with short to long ascending branches often closely clustered into tufts. Inflorescences borne on the short branches, usually consisting of clusters of (1)-2-4 spikelets partly or almost entirely hidden in the leaf-sheaths, very rarely a short, reduced, spike-like panicle exserted beyond uppermost leaf-sheath. Spikelets 1.5-2 mm, subsessile, or usually the terminal and sometimes the lateral spikelets pedicelled and subtended by (3)-5-15 ciliate, whitish, unequal (1.5-12 mm), finely scabrid bristles. Glumes unequal; lower 0, or sometimes a minute, nerveless scale, upper often 0, occasionally a short (3 mm), transparent, 3-nerved scale. Lower floret Ø: lemma = spikelet, 9-13-nerved, papery; palea 0. Upper floret ⚥, ♂ or ♀: lemma ≈ spikelet, 9-11-nerved, papery; palea of same texture as lemma, rounded, with 2-4 smooth nerves; lodicules 0; anthers of ⚥ and ♂ florets: 4-5 mm, with filaments much extended at anthesis, to c. 3 cm, and exserted from leaf-sheath giving patches of the plant a silvery appearance, of ♀ florets: 3-4 mm, on short filaments retained within spikelets; style and stigmas long-exserted from floret, 1.5-3.5 mm, stigmas connate, finely plumose, often bifid at tip; caryopsis c. 2 × 15 mm, oblong, slightly laterally compressed, brown. Plate 4B.
N.: North Auckland, and elsewhere scattered near coast except in eastern Wellington Province; S.: Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Westland (as far south as Greymouth), Canterbury (Lincoln); Three Kings Is: Great Id. Pastures, coastal (sandy or rocky foreshore), reclamation areas, roadsides, lawns, stream banks.
Naturalised from North Africa.
A troublesome weed of high rainfall areas in many warm countries.
Field, T. R. O. and Forde, M. B. Proc. N.Z. Grasslands Assoc. 51: 47-50 (1990) reported that kikuyu grass was most common in pasture north of Auckland and also at Whakatane and was widespread as a road verge sp. in coastal Taranaki from Kotare to Opunake. It was reported as being much more dominant in the Bay of Plenty than usual in the summer of 1988/89.
This strongly creeping grass can form swards over several hectares in area and is difficult to eradicate. Because shading does not stop its growth, it can grow up through hedges and bushes, eventually shading them to extinction. Where kikuyu grass grows in open scrubland or on forest margins the seedlings of native trees and shrubs have very little chance of establishment. Kikuyu grass creates a considerable fire hazard as the old stolons die and accumulate because of the new growth scrambling over the top.
Although kikuyu grass is frost tender, a plant which appeared in a coke-breeze pathway at DSIR, Lincoln, persisted over two winters and flowered in its second season (CHR 143957). It originated from soil about Cyperus plants from North Auckland.
