Family: Poaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability and elevation range
- Thrives and spreads in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized or naturalizing on Hawaii Island, widely naturalized elsewhere
- A Hawaii state noxious weed
- A serious agricultural and environmental weed
- Potentially allelopathic
- Roots can penetrate and parasitize other plants
- All but the young shoots unpalatable to grazing animals
- Increases fire risk and fuel load
- Moderate shade tolerance
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms dense monocultures that exclude other vegetation
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
- Hybridizes with other Imperata species
- Reaches maturity in one year
- Seeds dispersed by wind and as a possible crop or soil contaminant
- Rhizomes dispersed by machinery and as a soil contaminant
- Intentionally cultivated
- Prolific seed producer (depending on genetic variability in populations)
- Tolerates grazing, mowing and fire
Low Risk Traits:
- Non-toxic to animals (who generally do not graze on grass)
- Self-incompatible populations may limit seed production and potential for wind, or long-distance seed dispersal
- Short-lived seeds lose viability in <1 year
- Herbicides may provide effective control