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