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Scientific Name
Jarava plumosa (Spreng.) S.W.L Jacobs & J. Everett
Synonyms
Achnatherum papposum (Nees) BarkworthCalamagrostis plumosa Spreng.Stipa papposa NeesStipa plumosa Trin.
Family
Gramineae (South Australia)Poaceae (Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory)
Common Names
jarava, plumerillo, South American rice grass
Origin
Native to South America (i.e. southern Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay and Peru).
Naturalised Distribution
This species currently has a very limited distribution in Australia. It has only been recorded as naturalised near Adelaide in south-eastern South Australia.
Naturalised overseas in south-western USA (i.e. California).
Notes
Plumerillo (Jarava plumosa) is a potential weed of pastures, native grasslands and open woodlands in the temperate regions of Australia. Its is one of eleven exotic stipoid grasses that are thought to pose a significant threat to remnant indigenous grasslands in south-eastern Australia and its potential distribution in this country has been estimated at about 1.8 million hectares.
Plumerillo (Jarava plumosa) was introduced as a potential pasture plant in the early 1940s, but it has since been found naturalised in the vicinity of the Waite Institute in Adelaide in south-eastern South Australia. While it appears to be spreading, it is so far confined to this one general area and populations are controlled on an ongoing basis.