Plant Assessment Form

Stipa tenuissima

Common Names: Mexican feathergrass

Evaluated on: 05/10/2024

List committee review date:

Re-evaluation date:

Evaluator(s)

Nikki Valentine
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
Alert Status? No Alert
Documentation? 3.5 out of 5
Score Documentation
1.1 ?Impact on abiotic ecosystem processes B. Moderate Reviewed Scientific Publication
Impact?
Four-part score BABD Total Score
B
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
Invasiveness?
Total Points
15 Total Score B
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
Distribution?
Total Score B
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
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
Moretto, A.S.; Distel, R.A. Soil nitrogen availability under grass of different palatability in a temperate semi-arid rangeland of central Argentina. Austral Ecol. 2002, 27, 509–514.
PlantRight. Stipa/Nassella tenuissima. Available online: https://plantright.org/invasive/stipanassella-tenuissima/. Accessed March 2024.


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.
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.
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.


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.
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.


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.


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).
N. tenuissima primarily invades disturbed grasslands (PIER 2004). However, seedling establishment of N. tenuissima only occurs in microsites without shoot and root competition (Moretto and Distel 1998). For example, N. tenuissima invades undisturbed areas such as sparse understory and inter-tussock spaces (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
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.
Moretto, A.S.; Distel, R.A. Requirement of vegetation gaps for seedling establishment of two unpalatable grasses in a native grassland of central Argentina. Austral Ecol. 1998, 23, 419–423.
PIER. Nassella tenuissima. Available online: http://www.hear.org/pier/species/nassella_tenuissima.htm (accessed March 2024).


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
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.
Russell and Rector. 2023. Mexican feathergrass. Texas A&M. Availabe online: https://washington.agrilife.org/files/2023/04/Mexican-Feathergrass.pdf. Accessed March 2024.


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.
Russell and Rector. 2023. Mexican feathergrass. Texas A&M. Availabe online: https://washington.agrilife.org/files/2023/04/Mexican-Feathergrass.pdf. Accessed March 2024.


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.]
In addition to the high seed production, vegetative regeneration has also been reported for this species with the presence of a bud bank. Nassella tenuissima produces 12 to 20 active buds per tiller or culm annually, allowing for vegetative regeneration after disturbance events (Russell 2007).


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.
Mapaura, A.; Canavan, K.; Richardson, D.M.; Clark, V.R.; Steenhuisen, S.-L. 2020. The invasive grass genus Nassella in South Africa: A synthesis. S. Afr. J. Bot. 135, 336–348.
Northern Territory Government of Australia: Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 2017. Mexican Feather Grass. Available online: https://depws.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/404290/Mexican-feather-grass-ID-sheet-2017.pdf. Accessed March 2024.
Queensland Government. 2016. Mexican Feather Grass. Available online: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/plants/invasive/restricted/mexican-feather-grass. Accessed May 2024.
Russell, M.L.; Rector, B.S. Mexican Feathergrass; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: College Station, TX, USA, 2007; 4p.


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.
NSW Weedwise. Reviewed 2021. Mexican Feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima). Available online: https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/MexicanFeatherGrass. Accessed May 2024.


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.
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.
NSW Weedwise. Reviewed 2021. Mexican Feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima). Available online: https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/MexicanFeatherGrass. Accessed May 2024.


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
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
Missouri Botanical Garden. Nassella tenuissima. Available online: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285344. Accessed May 2024.


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.
Womack, Melissa G. 2014. "Mexican Feather Grass: Invasive Beauty can be Deceiving." UC ANR: UC Master Gardener Program Statewide Blog. Available online: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=14457


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?
Marine Systemsmarine systemsU, Unknown
Freshwater and Estuarine lakes, ponds, reservoirsU, Unknown
Aquatic Systemsrivers, streams, canalsU, Unknown
estuariesU, Unknown
DunescoastalU, Unknown
desertU, Unknown
interiorU, Unknown
Scrub and Chaparralcoastal bluff scrubU, Unknown
coastal scrubD, < 5%
Sonoran desert scrubU, Unknown
Mojavean desert scrub (incl. Joshua tree woodland)U, Unknown
Great Basin scrubU, Unknown
chenopod scrubU, Unknown
montane dwarf scrubU, Unknown
Upper Sonoran subshrub scrubU, Unknown
chaparralD, < 5%
Grasslands, Vernal Pools, Meadows, and other Herb Communitiescoastal prairieD, < 5%
valley and foothill grasslandD, < 5%
Great Basin grasslandU, Unknown
vernal poolU, Unknown
meadow and seepU, Unknown
alkali playaU, Unknown
pebble plainU, Unknown
Bog and Marshbog and fenU, Unknown
marsh and swampU, Unknown
Riparian and Bottomland habitatriparian forestU, Unknown
riparian woodlandU, Unknown
riparian scrub (incl.desert washes)D, < 5%
Woodlandcismontane woodlandU, Unknown
piñon and juniper woodlandU, Unknown
Sonoran thorn woodlandU, Unknown
Forestbroadleaved upland forestU, Unknown
North Coast coniferous forestU, Unknown
closed cone coniferous forestU, Unknown
lower montane coniferous forestU, Unknown
upper montane coniferous forestU, Unknown
subalpine coniferous forestU, Unknown
Alpine Habitatsalpine boulder and rock field
alpine dwarf scrubU, Unknown
Amplitude (breadth): B
Distribution (highest score): D

Infested Jepson Regions

Click here for a map of Jepson regions

  • Central West
  • Great Valley
  • Southwest