Plant Assessment Form
More Stipa tenuissima resources
Stipa tenuissima
Common Names: Mexican feathergrass
Evaluated on: 05/10/2024
List committee review date:
Re-evaluation date:
Evaluator(s)
California Invasive Plant Council
California Invasive Plant Council
510.843.3902 x306
nvalentine@cal-ipc.org
No list committee members listed
General Comments
No general comments for this species
Table 2. Criteria, Section, and Overall Scores
Overall Score?
Moderate
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Alert Status?
No Alert
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Documentation?
3.5 out of 5
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Score | Documentation | |||
1.1 | ?Impact on abiotic ecosystem processes | B. Moderate | Reviewed Scientific Publication | |
1.2 | ?Impact on plant community | A. Severe | Reviewed Scientific Publication | |
1.3 | ?Impact on higher trophic levels | B. Moderate | Reviewed Scientific Publication | |
1.4 | ?Impact on genetic integrity | D. None | Other Published Material | |
2.1 | ?Role of anthropogenic and natural disturbance in establishment | B. Moderate | Reviewed Scientific Publication | |
2.2 | ?Local rate of spread with no management | B. Increases less rapidly | Other Published Material | |
2.3 | ?Recent trend in total area infested within state | B. Increasing less rapidly | Other Published Material | |
2.4 |
?Innate reproductive potential (see Worksheet A) |
A. High | Reviewed Scientific Publication | |
2.5 | ?Potential for human-caused dispersal | B. Moderate | Reviewed Scientific Publication | |
2.6 | ? Potential for natural long-distance dispersal | B. Occasional | Reviewed Scientific Publication | |
2.7 | ?Other regions invaded | B. Invades 1 or 2 ecological types | Other Published Material | |
3.1 |
?Ecological amplitude/Range (see Worksheet C) |
B. Moderate | Other Published Material | |
3.2 |
?Distribution/Peak frequency (see Worksheet C) |
B. Moderate | Observational |
Table 3. Documentation
Scores are explained in the "Criteria for Categorizing Invasive Non-Native Plants that Threaten Wildlands".
Section 1: Impact | |
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Question 1.1 Impact on abiotic ecosystem processes? | B Reviewed Scientific Publication |
Identify ecosystem processes impacted: Nassella tenuissima is likely to create fire hazards due to its very fine leaves, its production of thousands of fine-awned seeds, its formation of dense monocultures in dry areas, and fire enhancing N. tenuissima seeding (Conolly and Taylor 2006). Additionally, this species' unpalatable leaves cycle slowly back to the soil, which results in alterations of the soil chemistry, ultimately affecting the soil quality, facilitating Nassella establishment (Moretto and Distel 2002). Sources of information: Conolly, Jenny and Taylor, Steve. 2006. Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) control - the ACT experience. Twentieth Australasian Weeds Conference. Available online: https://caws.org.nz/old-site/awc/2016/awc201612281.pdf |
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Question 1.2 Impact on plant community composition, structure, and interactions? |
A Reviewed Scientific Publication |
Identify type of impact or alteration: Nassella tenuissima forms dense understory monocultures outcompeting and replacing native plants (Mapaura et al 2020; Government of South Australia; Humphries and Florentine 2021). Sources of information: Government of South Australia. Mexican Feather Grass Weed Identification Notes. Available online: https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/landscape/docs/hf/mexican-feather-grass-identification-fact.pdf. Accessed March 2024. |
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Question 1.3 Impact on higher trophic levels? | B Reviewed Scientific Publication |
Identify type of impact or alteration: Nassella tenuissima forms an understory monoculture and reduces native fauna habitat (Government of South Australia). Nassella tenuissima is unpalatable to most animals (Government of South Australia; Mapaura et al 2020). Additionally, Nassella spp. invasions are associated with reduced invertebrate diversity (Mapaura et al 2020). Sources of information: Government of South Australia. Mexican Feather Grass Weed Identification Notes. Available online: https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/landscape/docs/hf/mexican-feather-grass-identification-fact.pdf. Accessed March 2024. |
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Question 1.4 Impact on genetic integrity? | D Other Published Material |
There is no evidence of this species hybridizing with native species (Hickman 1993). Sources of information: Hickman, J. C. (ed.) 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California. University of California Press. Berkeley, CA. |
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Section 2: Invasiveness | |
Question 2.1 Role of anthropogenic and natural disturbance in establishment? |
B Other Published Material |
Describe role of disturbance: Nassella tenuissima primarily spreads in disturbed areas through both natural and anthropogenic disturbance. This species can be spread by wind, water, attachment to animal fur, attachment to clothing, and equipment. Because Nassella tenuissima is not palatable, grazing further promotes its establishment. Introduced disturbance caused by management attempts such as burning or grubbing also further promote its establishment since Nassella teniussima has the capacity to resprout if the roots are not fully removed or treated (Mapaura et al 2020; PIER 2024). Sources of information: Conolly, Jenny and Taylor, Steve. 2006. Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) control - the ACT experience. Twentieth Australasian Weeds Conference. Available online: https://caws.org.nz/old-site/awc/2016/awc201612281.pdf |
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Question 2.2 Local rate of spread with no management? | B Other Published Material |
Describe rate of spread: Nassella tenuissima is quick to invade disturbed or open areas and can quickly colonize an entire area (Russell and Rector 2023). Nassella tenuissima colonizes entire areas, forming a monoculture (Government of South Australia; Russell and Rector 2023). However some isolated infestations in Australia did not become too large after several years (Conolly and Taylor 2006). Sources of information: Conolly, Jenny and Taylor, Steve. 2006. Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) control - the ACT experience. Twentieth Australasian Weeds Conference. Available online: https://caws.org.nz/old-site/awc/2016/awc201612281.pdf |
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Question 2.3 Recent trend in total area infested within state? | B Other Published Material |
Describe trend: The earliest reported observation in California is from 1998 (Calflora). Nassella tenuissima has not occupied the full extent of its range in California and is capable of forming monocultures quickly in open or disturbed areas (Russell and Rector 2023). Sources of information: Calflora Observation Search. https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=o#srch=t&taxon=Nassella+tenuissima&cols=0,3,36,13,38,11,41&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r. Accessed March 2024. |
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Question 2.4 Innate reproductive potential? | A Reviewed Scientific Publication |
Describe key reproductive characteristics: A single mature N. tenuissima plant can produce between 70,000–100,000 seeds annually, with up to 90% of the seeds germinating within their first two years, however small numbers can persist in excess of seven years (Humphries and Florentine 2021). Seeds are between 2 - 3mm long with a bristle-like appendage that is 4.5 - 9cm long extending from the end of the seed (Northern Territory Government of Australia 2017). N. tenuissima can cross-pollinate and self-pollinate (Humphries and Florentine 2021; Mapaura et al 2020). Flowering occurs August to February in Australia (Queensland Government 2016). [Uncertain if August to February is window of time or sustained flowering within a population. Left this unknown in the reproductive worksheet and still scored A.] Sources of information: Humphries, Talia and Florentine, Singareyer. 2021. A Comparative Review of Six Invasive Nassella Species in Australia with Implications for Their Management. Plants, 10 (6). Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/6/1036#B54-plants-10-01036. |
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Question 2.5 Potential for human-caused dispersal? | B Reviewed Scientific Publication |
Identify dispersal mechanisms: Seeds are dispersed by many human-caused agents such as agricultural machinery, in mud or soil, clothing, trains, cars, silage, and hay (Mapaura 2020; NSW Weedwise 2021). Nasella tenuissima is also sold as an ornamental in California. Sources of information: Mapaura, A.; Canavan, K.; Richardson, D.M.; Clark, V.R.; Steenhuisen, S.-L. The invasive grass genus Nassella in South Africa: A synthesis. S. Afr. J. Bot. 2020, 135, 336–348. |
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Question 2.6 Potential for natural long-distance dispersal? | B Reviewed Scientific Publication |
Identify dispersal mechanisms: N. tenuissima are usually only dispersed for short distances because their seeds remain attached to the plant (Mapaura 2020). N. tenuissima seeds are naturally dispersed by wind, water, contaminated soil, animal droppings, floodwaters, animal fur, and in mud or soil (Mapaura 2020; NSW Weedwise 2021). Although the panicles do not readily detach from N. tenuissima, their seeds are the smallest of all the Nassella species, which allows them to be effectively dispersed by wind (Marshal 2015). Sources of information: Marshal, A. Land of Sweeping Plains: Managing and Restoring the Native Grasslands of South-Eastern Australia; Williams, N., Marshall, A., Morgan, J., Eds.; CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Australia, 2015; 472p. |
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Question 2.7 Other regions invaded? | B Other Published Material |
Identify other regions: Nasella tenuissima is native to open, rocky scrublands and woods of the mountainous Trans-Pecos region of Texas west to southern New Mexico and south into central Mexico (Missouri Botanical Garden). This species is also native to Argentina and Chile (Missouri Botanical Garden). In Australia, N. tenuissima also occurs in grassy woodlands and montane forest understory. There are observations of Nassella tenuissima reported in California largely along the coast from the Bay Area to San Diego (Calflora). In California this species has not yet invaded woodlands or forests. Sources of information: Calflora Observation Search. Available online: https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=o#srch=t&taxon=Nassella+tenuissima&cols=0,3,36,13,38,11,41&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r. Accessed March 2024 |
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Section 3: Distribution | |
Question 3.1 Ecological amplitude/Range? | B Other Published Material |
The earliest reported observation in California is from 1998 (Calflora). Observations of Nassella tenuissima reported in California occur largely along the coast from the Bay Area to San Diego (Calflora). These Calflora observations occur in riparian canyons, chaparral, coastal grasslands, and coastal scrub. N. tenuissima is also reported to occur in urban spaces, agricultural areas, forests, open grasslands, riparian zones, disturbed land, and shrublands (Womack 2014). Sources of information: Calflora Observation Search. Available online: https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=o#srch=t&taxon=Nassella+tenuissima&cols=0,3,36,13,38,11,41&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r. Accessed March 2024. |
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Question 3.2 Distribution/Peak frequency? | B Observational |
Describe distribution: Occurs in less than 5% of any ecotype in California. Sources of information: Calflora Observation Search. Available online: https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=o#srch=t&taxon=Nassella+tenuissima&cols=0,3,36,13,38,11,41&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r. Accessed March 2024. |
Worksheet A - Innate reproductive potential
Reaches reproductive maturity in 2 years or less | Yes |
Dense infestations produce >1,000 viable seed per square meter | Yes |
Populations of this species produce seeds every year. | Yes |
Seed production sustained over 3 or more months within a population annually | Unknown |
Seeds remain viable in soil for three or more years | Yes |
Viable seed produced with both self-pollination and cross-pollination | Yes |
Has quickly spreading vegetative structures (rhizomes, roots, etc.) that may root at nodes | No |
Fragments easily and fragments can become established elsewhere | No |
Resprouts readily when cut, grazed, or burned | Yes |
Total points: | 8 |
Total unknowns: | 1 |
Total score: | A? |
Related traits:
Worksheet B - Arizona Ecological Types is not included here
Worksheet C - California Ecological Types
(sensu Holland 1986)Major Ecological Types | Minor Ecological Types | Code? |
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Marine Systems | marine systems | U, Unknown |
Freshwater and Estuarine | lakes, ponds, reservoirs | U, Unknown |
Aquatic Systems | rivers, streams, canals | U, Unknown |
estuaries | U, Unknown | |
Dunes | coastal | U, Unknown |
desert | U, Unknown | |
interior | U, Unknown | |
Scrub and Chaparral | coastal bluff scrub | U, Unknown |
coastal scrub | D, < 5% | |
Sonoran desert scrub | U, Unknown | |
Mojavean desert scrub (incl. Joshua tree woodland) | U, Unknown | |
Great Basin scrub | U, Unknown | |
chenopod scrub | U, Unknown | |
montane dwarf scrub | U, Unknown | |
Upper Sonoran subshrub scrub | U, Unknown | |
chaparral | D, < 5% | |
Grasslands, Vernal Pools, Meadows, and other Herb Communities | coastal prairie | D, < 5% |
valley and foothill grassland | D, < 5% | |
Great Basin grassland | U, Unknown | |
vernal pool | U, Unknown | |
meadow and seep | U, Unknown | |
alkali playa | U, Unknown | |
pebble plain | U, Unknown | |
Bog and Marsh | bog and fen | U, Unknown |
marsh and swamp | U, Unknown | |
Riparian and Bottomland habitat | riparian forest | U, Unknown |
riparian woodland | U, Unknown | |
riparian scrub (incl.desert washes) | D, < 5% | |
Woodland | cismontane woodland | U, Unknown |
piñon and juniper woodland | U, Unknown | |
Sonoran thorn woodland | U, Unknown | |
Forest | broadleaved upland forest | U, Unknown |
North Coast coniferous forest | U, Unknown | |
closed cone coniferous forest | U, Unknown | |
lower montane coniferous forest | U, Unknown | |
upper montane coniferous forest | U, Unknown | |
subalpine coniferous forest | U, Unknown | |
Alpine Habitats | alpine boulder and rock field | |
alpine dwarf scrub | U, Unknown | |
Amplitude (breadth): | B | |
Distribution (highest score): | D |
Infested Jepson Regions
Click here for a map of Jepson regions
- Central West
- Great Valley
- Southwest