Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Mulato II (Urochloa ruziziensis × U. decumbens × U. brizantha) is a tropical forage grass developed through three generations of hybridization and selection. First released in Colombia and Mexico in 2005, it has since been introduced to more than 50 countries for livestock production. This vigorous, perennial grass was bred for high forage quality, strong productivity, and resistance to spittlebugs. It is also valued for its tolerance of drought, shade, grazing, and periodic fire, making it a popular pasture species in tropical and subtropical regions.

Risks & Threats
Although Mulato II is not currently known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses several traits that raise concern for tropical island ecosystems. It can reproduce through apomictic seed production (producing viable seed without fertilization), spread vegetatively, and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, including shade, grazing, and fire. These characteristics could allow it to escape cultivation, establish in disturbed areas, and compete with native vegetation or desirable pasture species if introduced widely. Because of its potential to become weedy despite the current lack of documented invasiveness, Plant Pono recommends choosing a low-risk or native alternative whenever suitable options are available to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad elevation range and climate suitability in tropical regions
  
• Thrives and could spread in regions with tropical climates
  
• Other Urochloa (Brachiaria) species are invasive weeds
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types (unlikely to be substrate limited)
  
• Capable of forming dense cover that may compete with and exclude other desirable vegetation.
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rooting at nodes of flowering and non-flowering stems.
  
• Apomictic (capable of asexual reproduction by seed without fertilization).
  
• Reaches maturity in <1 growing season
  
• Seeds likely dispersed by gravity, water, and through intentional cultivation, and possibly unintentionally through movement of equipment, soil and crop contamination.
  
• Potentially prolific seed production.
  
• Tolerates grazing, cutting and fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Valued as a palatable pasture species, with no current reports of negative impacts or invasiveness documented worldwide.
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Palatable to grazing animals.
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control
  
• Resistant to spittle bugs and possibly tolerant of two-lined spittle bug currently impacting pasture grasses in the Hawaiian Islands.