Cenchrus longisetus M.C.Johnst.
Feathertop (Cenchrus longisetus) is a long-lived, perennial grass that is native to Ethiopia. It was likely introduced to New Zealand as a garden ornamental and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1880. The plant forms dense tussocks with narrow, arching leaves and flowering stems up to about 1 metre tall. It flowers from summer to autumn, producing soft, pinkish to purplish, bottlebrush-like flower heads, which develop into seeds enclosed by long, feathery bristles. It tolerates drought and a range of soil types. It reproduces by seed. Seeds are dispersed by animals, clothing, machinery and human activities. The bristly seed heads readily attach to fur, feathers and clothing.
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