Family: Poaceae
The hybrid cultivar (cv.) Mulato II is the product of three generations of hybridization and selection initially released in Colombia and Mexico in 2005, and subsequently in some 50 countries around the world as a forage grass resistant to spittle bugs. Although no reports of naturalization or invasiveness have been documented to date, its ability to produce seed through apomixis, tolerance of shade, grazing and fire, and its ability to spread both by seed and vegetatively, suggest it is likely to spread and could become weedy under certain conditions.
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.
