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