Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Eremochloa ophiuroides (centipede grass) is a low-growing, warm-season grass native to Southeast Asia. It forms a dense, carpet-like lawn with creeping stolons and light green, slightly coarse leaves. Often called “lazy man’s grass,” it is valued for its slow growth, minimal mowing requirements, and tolerance of acidic, low-fertility soils. Centipede grass is widely used in residential lawns, parks, and roadside plantings, especially in warm, humid regions where a low-maintenance groundcover is desired.

Risks & Threats
Centipede grass is naturalized on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island, and while it scores as a High Risk species due to traits like vegetative spread and adaptability to poor soils, it is generally considered a Low Risk species in the Hawaiian Islands. It typically remains confined to managed or disturbed areas and does not aggressively invade intact native ecosystems. However, it can spread into adjacent habitats, forming dense mats that may outcompete smaller plants in open or degraded sites. Continued monitoring is recommended, but overall, its impacts in Hawaiʻi have been limited compared to more aggressive invasive grasses.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized: Frequent escapee in Florida (roadsides, ditches).
  
• Agricultural weed: Can become a nuisance in pastures and cropland.
  
• Unpalatable: Not desirable for grazing animals.
  
• Shade tolerant: Persists under dense canopies where other grasses fail.
  
• Soil adaptable: Tolerates a wide range of soil types.
  
• Sexual reproduction: Produces viable seed.
  
• Vegetative spread: Spreads aggressively via stolons.
  
• Intentional introduction: Widely cultivated as turfgrass.
  
• Seed bank: Forms a persistent seed bank (>1 year).
  
• Mowing tolerant: Tolerates frequent mutilation.

Low Risk Traits:

• Not an environmental weed: No evidence of significant impact in natural ecosystems.
  
• No physical defenses: Lacks spines, thorns, or burrs.
  
• Non-toxic: No evidence of allelopathy, parasitism, or toxicity to animals/humans.
  
• Fire resistant: Does not create a fire hazard.
  
• Non-smothering: Low-growing growth habit; turf easily invaded by weeds.
  
• Poor natural dispersal: No adaptations for wind, bird, or external animal dispersal.
  
• Herbicide susceptible: Well controlled by specific chemicals (e.g., fluazifop-butyl).
  
• Natural enemies present: Highly susceptible to nematode damage.