Family: Poaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability (can grow in Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical climates)
- Naturalized in North and South America
- A weed of disturbed ground, cultivated land, sandy soil, gardens, road verges, gravelly roadsides, floodplains
- May impact agriculture
- Other Eragrostis species are invasive weeds
- Tolerates many soil types (not substrate limited)
- Reproduces by seeds
- Self-fertile
- An annual, reaching maturity in <1 year
- Seeds reported to be dispersed by humans, animals, vehicles and as a seed contaminant (although seeds lack any specific dispersal adaptations)
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite reports of weediness, negative impacts have generally not been quantified
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Palatable pasture grass
- Non-toxic
- Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
- Herbicides may provide effective control