Climate Matching Map
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| ClimateMatch_CA_Pennisetum_ciliare.pdf (1.08 MB) | 1.08 MB |
1. Question 1
Yes
1
Very High
Buffelgrass has invaded southwestern North America, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico incl. Sonora and Chihuahua. Also invading in Australia and South Central Asia (India, Pakistan), and also found in Hawaii. Native to Africa and the Middle East. Buffelgrass is on the Arizona noxious weed list and the New Mexico watch list.
Marshall, VM, MM Lewis, and B Ostendorf. 2012. “Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As an Invader and Threat to Biodiversity in Arid Environments: A Review”. Journal of Arid Environments 78: 1-12.
Olsson, Aaryn D., Julio L Betancourt, Michael A Crimmins, and Stuart E Marsh. 2012. “Constancy of Local Spread Rates for Buffelgrass (Pennisetum Ciliare L.) in the Arizona Upland of the Sonoran Desert”. Journal of Arid Environments 87: 136-43.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
“Weeds of Australia: Buffelgrass”. 2016. https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cenchrus_ciliaris.htm.
“Arizona Noxious Weed List”. 2022. https://agriculture.az.gov/pestspest-control/agriculture-pests/noxious-weeds.
Beck, Leslie, and James Wanstall. 2020. “New Mexico Noxious Weed List”. New Mexico State University. https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_circulars/CR698/.
2. Question 2
Yes
2
Very High
Buffelgrass is invasive in Australia and southwestern North America, where the climate is similar to California including the Sonoran Desert.
Marshall, VM, MM Lewis, and B Ostendorf. 2012. “Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As an Invader and Threat to Biodiversity in Arid Environments: A Review”. Journal of Arid Environments 78: 1-12.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
3. Question 3
Yes
2
Very High
Invasive in US and Australia
Farrell, Hannah L., and Elise S. Gornish. 2019. “Pennisetum Ciliare: A Review of Treatment Efficacy, Competitive Traits, and Restoration Opportunities”. Invasive Plant Science and Management 12: 203-13. doi:10.1017/inp.2019.28.
Marshall, VM, MM Lewis, and B Ostendorf. 2012. “Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As an Invader and Threat to Biodiversity in Arid Environments: A Review”. Journal of Arid Environments 78: 1-12.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
“Weeds of Australia: Buffelgrass”. 2016. https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cenchrus_ciliaris.htm.
4. Question 4
Yes
3
Very High
Invading southwestern North America and Australia, both of which have climates that match California.
Farrell, Hannah L., and Elise S. Gornish. 2019. “Pennisetum Ciliare: A Review of Treatment Efficacy, Competitive Traits, and Restoration Opportunities”. Invasive Plant Science and Management 12: 203-13. doi:10.1017/inp.2019.28.
Marshall, VM, MM Lewis, and B Ostendorf. 2012. “Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As an Invader and Threat to Biodiversity in Arid Environments: A Review”. Journal of Arid Environments 78: 1-12.
“GBIF Distribution Map Buffelgrass Pennisetum Ciliare, Cenchrus Ciliaris”. 2021. https://www.gbif.org/species/2706152.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
5. Question 5
Yes
1
Very High
Several other Pennisetum's are also invasive. Including Fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum), kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) Chinese fountain grass (P. alopecuroides) . Buffelgrass is also listed as Cenchrus ciliaris, several other Cenchrus' are also invasive (Cenchrus setiger)
DiTomaso, Joseph M., and Evelyn A. Healy. 2013. Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States. Davis, CA: University of California, Weed Research and Information Center.
Mastalerz, Allison, and Mark Frey. 2012. “Invasive Plant Alert: Fountain Grass Pennisetum Alopecuroides (L.) Spreng”. Washington, DC: National Park Service, National Capital Region Exotic Plant Management Team. https://www.nps.gov/cue/epmt/products/Pennisetum\%20alopecuroides\%202012\%20NCREPMT.pdf.
“USDA PLANTS Database: Pennisetum Alopecuroides (Chinese Fountaingrass)”. 2017. Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA: National Plant Data Team. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PEAL.
6. Question 6
Yes
2
High
Buffelgrass grows in southern Africa, the middle east, south central Asia, eastern Australia, southwestern North America and all these places match the climate of California. Buffelgrass seems to occur in about half of climate zones that it grows in that also match California. (NOTE: not listed as very high confidence, because there are several large semi-tropical areas where buffelgrass grows that are outside climate of CA, eastern Africa, eastern South America (Brazil), Texas and central Mexico.)
“GBIF Distribution Map Buffelgrass Pennisetum Ciliare, Cenchrus Ciliaris”. 2021. https://www.gbif.org/species/2706152.
7. Question 7
Yes
1
Very High
Buffelgrass displaces native plants in several locations where it is invasive, including Australia, Hawaii, and Sonoran Desert. It can also overtop and smother smaller native plants.
Marshall, VM, MM Lewis, and B Ostendorf. 2012. “Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As an Invader and Threat to Biodiversity in Arid Environments: A Review”. Journal of Arid Environments 78: 1-12.
Jackson, Janice. 2005. “Is There a Relationship Between Herbaceous Species Richness and Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris)?”. Austral Ecology 30: 505-17.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
8. Question 8
Yes
1
Very High
Buffel grass adds fuels to desert ecosystems where fuels are historically limited. Buffelgrass also adds fuels to semi-tropical grassland ecosystems altering the fire regime.
No references cited.
9. Question 9
No
0
Very High
Buffelgrass is often introduced to semi-arid ecosystems to increase forage for livestock. Buffelgrass has been viewed as a beneficial forage grass for livestock producers.
No references cited.
10. Question 10
No
0
Very High
While buffelgrass increases fuels and has been planted as a forage grass, it does not create impenetrable thickets for most animal species. The grass is generally less than 1.5 m tall and less than 1 m tall when not in flower. It does alter habitat quality and decrease species richness.
Marshall, VM, MM Lewis, and B Ostendorf. 2012. “Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As an Invader and Threat to Biodiversity in Arid Environments: A Review”. Journal of Arid Environments 78: 1-12.
11. Question 11
Yes
1
High
Buffelgrass can reproduce via stolons or rhizomes. The main mode of reproduction is by seed and is apomictic (produces seed asexually).
Bashaw, EC, and KW Hignight. 1990. “Gene Transfer in Apomictic Buffelgrass through Fertilization of an Unreduced Egg”. Crop Science 30: 571-75.
Cook, Bruce. 2007. “Buffel Grass Fact Sheet”. Pastures Australia, A collaboration between AWI, GRDC, MLA, RIRDC and Dairy Australia. https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/pastures/Html/Buffel_grass.htm.
Tu, Mandy, John Randall, B. Rice, Kaylee Tillery, Michasia Harris, and Lily Connor. 2014. “BugwoodWiki: Pennisetum Ciliare”. https://wiki.bugwood.org/Pennisetum_ciliare$\#$Reproduction.
12. Question 12
No
0
High
Buffelgrass is a grass and may occasionally reproduce by tillers separating from the parent plant, however this is uncommon and would require the plant to be disturbed.
“Field Guide for Managing Buffelgrass in the Southwest”. (2025) 2014. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5410107.pdf.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
13. Question 13
Yes
1
Very High
Yes, reproduces by seed
No references cited.
14. Question 14
Yes
1
Very High
Individual buffelgrass inflorescences can produce over one hundred seeds and individual plants can have dozens of inflorescences.
Kumar, Dinesh, GK Dwivedi, and SN Singh. 2005. “Seed Yield and Quality of Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As Influenced by Row Spacing and Fertilizer Level”. Tropical Grasslands 39: 107-11.
“Save Our Saguaros: Beat Back Buffelgrass”. 2022. https://www.desertmuseum.org/buffelgrass/learn.php.
15. Question 15
Yes
1
Very High
Germination of buffelgrass seeds was 25-35% in India and similarly as high in Mexico when placed under warm growing conditions. Seed viability drops over time.
Kumar, Dinesh, GK Dwivedi, and SN Singh. 2005. “Seed Yield and Quality of Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As Influenced by Row Spacing and Fertilizer Level”. Tropical Grasslands 39: 107-11.
Hacker, JB, and D Ratcliff. 1989. “Seed Dormancy and Factors Controlling Dormancy Breakdown in Buffel Grass Accession from Contrasting Provenances”. Journal of Applied Ecology, 201-12.
Villa-Reyes, Fernando, and Erick de la Barrera. 2016. “Environmental Cues for Germination of the Invasive Bunch Grass Pennisetum Ciliare (L.) Link”. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 38: 1-8.
16. Question 16
Yes
1
Very High
Buffelgrass plants can produce seed in two years or less.
No references cited.
17. Question 17
Yes
1
Medium
Buffelgrass is a C4 grass and generally reproduces during the warm summer rains. It can produce flowers from spring through summer or anytime the soil is wet and warm enough. Jepson lists flowering from April to October.
“Save Our Saguaros: Beat Back Buffelgrass”. 2022. https://www.desertmuseum.org/buffelgrass/learn.php.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
Smith, James P., Jr. 2012. “Jepson EFlora: Buffelgrass”. https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=36817.
18. Question 18
Yes
1
Very High
Buffelgrass seeds can disperse via animals, including getting stuck in their fur, and buffelgrass seeds can spread long distances and new patches form long distances from previously known patches.
Olsson, Aaryn D., Julio L Betancourt, Michael A Crimmins, and Stuart E Marsh. 2012. “Constancy of Local Spread Rates for Buffelgrass (Pennisetum Ciliare L.) in the Arizona Upland of the Sonoran Desert”. Journal of Arid Environments 87: 136-43.
“Field Guide for Managing Buffelgrass in the Southwest”. (2025) 2014. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5410107.pdf.
“Save Our Saguaros: Beat Back Buffelgrass”. 2022. https://www.desertmuseum.org/buffelgrass/learn.php.
Tu, Mandy, John Randall, B. Rice, Kaylee Tillery, Michasia Harris, and Lily Connor. 2014. “BugwoodWiki: Pennisetum Ciliare”. https://wiki.bugwood.org/Pennisetum_ciliare$\#$Reproduction.
19. Question 19
Yes
1
Medium
Seeds have bristles and can be spread by wind or water. Several sources suggest seeds can float. And populations can spread and disperse quickly in variety of patterns (guerrilla and phalanx, see Olssen et al. 2012).
Olsson, Aaryn D., Julio L Betancourt, Michael A Crimmins, and Stuart E Marsh. 2012. “Constancy of Local Spread Rates for Buffelgrass (Pennisetum Ciliare L.) in the Arizona Upland of the Sonoran Desert”. Journal of Arid Environments 87: 136-43.
“Field Guide for Managing Buffelgrass in the Southwest”. (2025) 2014. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5410107.pdf.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
“Weeds of Australia: Buffelgrass”. 2016. https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cenchrus_ciliaris.htm.
20. Question 20
No
0
Low
Seed dispersal can be on clothes as the seeds have bristles, however references do not suggest the frequency of this type of dispersal. Most often buffelgrass is intentionally dispersed to increase forage, or seeds are dispersed by wind, water or animals. Buffelgrass has been introduced across the globe intentionally as a pasture grass, to remediate reduced forages, while others have viewed its invasiveness as a problem for natural areas (see Marshall et al. 2012).
“Field Guide for Managing Buffelgrass in the Southwest”. (2025) 2014. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5410107.pdf.
“Invasive Species Compendium: Buffelgrass”. 2014. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/14502.
“Save Our Saguaros: Beat Back Buffelgrass”. 2022. https://www.desertmuseum.org/buffelgrass/learn.php.
Marshall, VM, MM Lewis, and B Ostendorf. 2012. “Buffel Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) As an Invader and Threat to Biodiversity in Arid Environments: A Review”. Journal of Arid Environments 78: 1-12.
Evaluation Notes
Websites accessed:
Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omeiaccessed via GBIF.org on 2022-11-30.
https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cenchrus_ciliaris.htm accessed 2022-11-30.
https://agriculture.az.gov/pestspest-control/agriculture-pests/noxious-weeds accessed 2022-11-30
https://wiki.bugwood.org/Pennisetum_ciliare#Reproduction accessed 2022-11-30
https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_circulars/CR698/ accessed 2022-11-30
https://www.desertmuseum.org/buffelgrass/learn.php access 2022-11-30
James P. Smith, Jr. 2012, Pennisetum ciliare, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=36817, accessed on November 30, 2022.
https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/pastures/Html/Buffel_grass.htm accessed 2022-11-30
Total PRE Score
21
20
90
