Cortaderia selloana is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae. and is native to southern South America, including the Pampas region after which it is named. It is widely distributed throughout the world as a cultivated ornamental and invasive species.

Etymology

Cortaderia is derived from the Argentine Spanish name , meaning 'cutter', in reference to its razor-sharp leaf margins.

Selloana is named for Friedrich Sellow (1789–1831), a German botanist

Control

Pampas grass can be controlled through herbicide treatment. To accomplish this, the grass is cut down near the base. Next, a 2% glyphosate chemical solution is combined with a silicone-based surfactant and applied to enhance the penetration potential. This method works best in the fall because there is overall better control compared to other seasons. Another control method is to cut and bag inflorescences to prevent seeds from spreading or pulling seedlings.

Cultivation

thumb|[[Jindai Botanical Garden, height and diameter , more than 40 years old as of 2007|alt=Big tufts, Jindai Botanical Garden, height and diameter , more than 40 years old as of 2007]]

Several cultivars are available, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

  • Aureolineata
  • Evita
  • Monstrosa
  • Patagonia
  • Pumila
  • Silver Feather Notcort
  • Sunningdale Silver—grows to a height of and has particularly dense flowering plumes

Population biology

Okada et al., 2007 find C. selloana populations are best distinguished by a Bayesian analysis of genetic features such as microsatellites. Algorithms such as STRUCTURE are suitable for this.

Several media outlets reported in the 2010s that it was planted by some couples who practise swinging in the United Kingdom as a way to indicate to other swingers that they enjoy that lifestyle. The reports caused a plunge in already declining sales, but the odd association has been dismissed by enthusiasts of the plant and gardening experts as "silly".

Diseases

O'Donnell et al., 2004 first isolated ' from this species.

<gallery>

File:Cortaderia selloana, Serbia.jpg| In Serbia.

File:Pampas Grass in Jindai Botanical Garden -Japan in 1964.jpg|Jindai Botanical Garden, autumn 1964.

File:Cortaderia_selloana_001.JPG

File:Cortaderia_selloana_002.JPG

File:Cortaderia_selloana_003.JPG|Flower detail.

File:Plantae Cortaderia Selloana(Pampas Grass) Flora.jpg|Plumes and foliage.

File:Unretouched_national_enquirer_scandal_photo.jpg|In California.

File:Cortadera.jpg|Shrub.

</gallery>

References

  • Pampas grass
  • Cortaderia selloana
  • Blueplanetbiomes.org
  • Pampas Grass under the microscope
  • Pampas Grass