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The Greenspace InsiderVolume 1, Number 5 November/December, 200

Recently, Greenspace attended a workshop organized by TheMonterey Pine Forest Ecology Cooperative, a program of the Ge-

netic Resources Conservation Program. The meeting was held atthe Pebble Beach Community Services District office. The work-

shop had a number of objectives including weed identification andappropriate removal techniques. This will be the first in a series of

articles discussing how invasive plants affect our forest and animalpopulations. We will focus on two invasive plants in this issue of the

Greenspace Insider pampasgrass (Cortaderia selloana) andjubatagrass (Cortaderia jubata).

OriginBoth pampasgrass and jubatagrass are native to South America.

Pampasgrass are native specifically to Argen-tina, Brazil, and Uruguay while jubatagrass is

from northern Argentina, and in the higher el-evations of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.Pampasgrass was introduced and grown com-

mercially in Santa Barbara the mid-1800s forornamental plants. The Soil Conservation Ser-

vice began using the plant for erosion controlprojects in the late 1940s. How jubatagrass

entered the United States is unclear but the hor-ticultural trade is the likely route.

Plant Characteristics

Pampasgrass and jubatagrass are often confused, as they looknearly identical at first glance. Cambria has both plants in our opin-

ion but jubatagrass clearly prevails as the predominate plant. Gen-erally, pampasgrass plants are larger than jubata and the plumesare showier and taller. Jubatagrass plumes tend to be purplish

whereas pampasgrass plumes are erect, creamier and fountain-

like.

Jubatagrass germinates inthe spring and prefers the coolcoastal climate. It is extremelyopportunistic and likes disturbed

sites like road cuts and land slideareas.Plants can survive up to 15

years. Jubatagrass plants haveonly female flowers and produce

asexually no pollen required. Allseed produced are geneticallyidentical to the parent plant. Each plume can contain 100,000 s

The seed has proven to be dispersed by wind up to 20 miles frommother plant. Fortunately, the

seed does not survive long in soil.

Pampasgrass germinates inJubata

plant

the spring and tolerates a more diverse clim

Consequently, its range is broader and the potfor infestations in colder and hotter climates is

pelling. Pampasgrass produces sexually and plant contains flowers of only one sex. Sinc

female plant has been propagated extensivethe nursery industry fewer male plants propo

ately exist. In most populations of pampasgrass both sexes d

coexist which results in low overall seed production.

What You Can Do

Controlling further spread of these grasses is important. As adent or landowner you can take a few simple preventative measur

stop the spread of these plants. If the understory is removed fromforested property and the soil is bare mulching will prevent infesta

Over seeding with appropriate vegetation can hinder establishmethese grasses. Mechanical control, pulling, and hand grubbing sm

plants is highly effective. Larger plants will require tools like a MattoPulaski. Large multi-plant infestations will require a chain saw move the above ground foliage and a shovel to remove the root

tem. Where hundreds of plants are involved chemical control is used however, we do not support the use of chemicals and re

mend mechanical remedies.

Ecosystem DamageThe problems these plants cause in Californias coastal ecosys

is that they crowd out native plant species. This is especially true

narrow coastal dune habitat remaining in California. In coastal-forareas where site disturbance has occurred seedling regeneration

be reduced significantly if infestations of these grasses is alloweflourish. These grasses provide little food value to native fauna. L

infestations of pampas or jubata can impede access to fight foresand be a fire hazard themselves. From a health viewpoint, the r

like leaf edges can cause injury to the unwary hiker or unproteeradicator.

INVASIVE, EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES OF

THE CAMBRIA MONTEREY PINE FOREST

(1)plumes of jubatagrass showing purple coloration;

(2 & 3) male pampasgrass;

(4 & 5) female pampasgrass;

Note purplish tinge in male pampasgrass plumes

Jubatagrass (left) and female pampasgrass (right)

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Local Land Conservation Since 1988

Post Office Box 1505Cambria, California 93428(805) 927-2866 - Phone

(805) 927-7530 - Faxe-mail: rick@GreenspaceCambria.orgwww.GreenspaceCambria.org

U.S. BulkRate

PAID

PermitNo. 37

Cambria, CA93428

Non-Profit

Organization

Recipient of 2001 National Arbor Day Aw ard

ALISTOFSOMEINVASIVEORNAMENTALSINTHECAMBRIAMONTEREYFOREST-PAMPASGRASS

-JUBATAGRASS-KUKUYAGRASS

-CAPEIVY-PERIWINKLE

-ACACIA-FRENCHBROOM

-RATTLESNAKEGRASS-ARUNDO-ITALIANTHISTLE

-BERMUDABUTTERCUP

HOWINVASIVEPLANTSALTER

ECOSYSTEMPROCESSES-CHANGESTRUCTURE,FUNCTION,AND

COMPOSITIONOFPLANTCOMMUNITY

-ALTERHYDROLOGICFLOWSANDCONDITIONS-CHANGESOILSTRUCTUREANDCHEMISTRY

-INFLUENCEFREQUENCYANDINTENSITYOFFIRES,FLOODS,ANDOTHERDISTURBANCEREGIMES

-CHANGEPATTERNSOFNUTRIENTCYCLING

INVASIVESPECIESFACTS

CaliforniaMapwith

CurrentRangeofInfestation

Jubatagrass&Pampasgrass