Family: Poaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability and elevation range
- Thrives, and can spread, in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized on Maui (Hawaiian Islands) and elsewhere in America
- An environmental weed in natural areas of Florida
- Allelopathic
- Tolerates many soil types
- May form dense monocultures that can exclude other vegetation
- Reproduces by seeds (rarely) and vegetatively by creeping rhizomes and culms rooting at the lower nodes
- Dispersed by water and intentionally by people
Low Risk Traits:
- Naturalized, but no negative impacts, documented in the Hawaiian Islands to date
- Generally regarded as a valuable pasture grass, and non-invasive in most locations where cultivated
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Palatable to grazing animals
- Thrives in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
- Limited seed production reduces risk of long distance or accidental dispersal
- Herbicides may provide effective control
- Does not tolerate heavy grazing or fire