Publication Date
2022
Publisher
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
City
Perth
Abstract
Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Birdwood grass (Cenchrus setiger). Birdwood grass (Cenchrus setiger) is native to north Africa, India and Middle east. It arrived in Western Australia (WA) when seed was sent from India in the 1920s by Field Marshal Lord Birdwood to his son-in-law, a grazier, in northern WA (Petheram and Kok 1991). It is a tufted, perennial bunch grass with vegetative growth 30−60cm high and purplish or brownish seed heads with short stiff bristles which form a spike-like inflorescence to 9cm long (Petheram and Kok 1991; Cook et al. 2020). Birdwood grass is adapted to arid and semi-arid climates (annual rainfall (125‒) 400‒750 (‒1,250) mm with a long dry season and responds quickly to light rains when temperatures are adequate for growth (Cook et al. 2020).
Number of Pages
15
Keywords
Birdwood grass, Cenchrus setiger, weed risk, assessment, biosecurity, Western Australia
Disciplines
Biosecurity | Weed Science
Recommended Citation
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.
(2022), Cenchrus setiger - environmental weed risk assessment 2022. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Report.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bs_wra/13
