Family: Poaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Grows and spreads in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized on Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands) and widely naturalized elsewhere
- Identified as a weedy grass of disturbed areas, sandy places, along roadsides, arable land, and perennial crops
- A potential environmental weed
- Other Cynodon species have become invasive
- When cultivated in the shade, can accumulate cyanide acid, and cause cyanogenic poisoning in cattle (rarely)
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms dense swards that could inhibit other vegetation
- Reproduces by seeds (rarely) and vegetatively by stolons
- Hybridizes with Bermudagrass
- Seeds, when produced, may be dispersed by wind, attached to animals and vehicles, as a contaminant in agricultural produce and intentionally by people
- Stolon pieces may be dispersed by humans, wild animals, livestock, and vehicles
- Tolerates grazing and fire
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite reports of weediness elsewhere, negative impacts have not been reported in the Hawaiian Islands
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Valued as forage grass for livestock
- Relatively shade-intolerant (dense shade or cover may inhibit spread)
- Limited or absent seed production may limit long-distance dispersal
- Herbicides may provide effective control
