fountain grass
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Definition
Noun: * A tall, perennial ornamental grass (Pennisetum setaceum) characterized by long, arching, nodding flower plumes. It is native to tropical Africa and Asia but is cultivated worldwide for its decorative appearance in gardens and landscapes.
Usage
- As a common noun (countable): Refers to the specific plant species or an individual plant of this type.
- The landscaper recommended planting fountain grass along the border for texture and movement.
- A single fountain grass can be a stunning focal point in a container.
- As a proper noun (part of a cultivar name): Often used in the names of specific cultivated varieties.
- 'Rubrum' is a popular purple-leaved cultivar of fountain grass.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- Horticultural Context: The term is used precisely within gardening, landscaping, and botany to identify this specific grass, often discussing its cultivars, growth habits, and ecological impact.
- The study compared the water requirements of fountain grass to those of native bunchgrasses.
Variants and Related Words
- Cenchrus setaceus: The current, accepted botanical name (synonym) for fountain grass in some taxonomic classifications.
- Pennisetum: The genus to which fountain grass belongs. Other ornamental grasses in this genus are sometimes loosely referred to as fountain grasses.
- Ornamental grass: The general category to which fountain grass belongs.
Synonyms
- Crimson fountain grass (specifically for the cultivar).
- Tender fountain grass.
Notes on Different Meanings
- The term refers exclusively to a specific plant species. It is not used idiomatically or with other abstract meanings. Its "fountain" descriptor comes from the plant's growth habit, where the foliage and flower plumes arch over like water from a fountain.
Noun
- tall perennial ornamental grass with long nodding flower plumes of tropical Africa and Asia