Family: Poaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Maui, Oahu and Kahoolawe and widely naturalized elsewhere
  
• A disturbance-adapted grass
  
• A weed of pastures and potentially of certain crops
  
• An environmental weed in Australia and Japan
  
• Other Eragrostis species are highly invasive
  
• Palatability to animals decreases with age
  
• Potentially allelopathic
  
• Pollen allergenic to susceptible individuals
  
• Increases fire risk in invaded ecosystems
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Capable of forming dense monocultures in invaded areas
  
• Reproduces by seed
  
• Reproduces apomictically
  
• Able to reach maturity in one growing season
  
• Seeds dispersed in mud, soil, contaminated agricultural produce. Also dispersed by wind, water, animals and vehicles
  
• Viable seed excreted by cattle
  
• Prolific seed production
  
• Forms a persistent seed bank
  
• Tolerates and resprouts after fire or cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• Certain cultivars may be less weedy
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to animals at early stages of growth
  
• Prefers open areas (tolerant of partial shade)
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control